Europe·16 June 2026
Russia launched its largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine, striking Kyiv and damaging a UNESCO-listed monastery, while Ukraine countered with deep drone strikes on the Moscow oil refinery and other Russian energy infrastructure. At the G7 summit, Zelensky proposed a meeting with Putin, Trump signaled a new focus on the Ukraine war, and the UK announced fresh sanctions. A Russian state-backed network was confirmed behind arson attacks on UK PM Starmer's properties, and Armenia announced joint military drills with NATO countries.
Massive Russian Aerial Assault on Ukraine and Deep Ukrainian Counter-Strikes into Russia
Russia launched its largest-ever combined aerial assault on Ukraine on June 15, firing 681 missiles and drones, with 90% targeting Kyiv. The attack involved Zircon, Iskander, and Kh-101 cruise missiles, destroyed a Nova Poshta terminal, paralyzed railways, and damaged the UNESCO-listed Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery. The strike on the 11th-century site drew widespread international condemnation, visits by over 70 foreign diplomats, and an EU sanctions package targeting 81 Russian entities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the damaged cathedral and vowed a response.
In a parallel overnight offensive, Russia struck 632 targets using 50 missiles and 582 drones, followed by a separate wave of 2 Iskander-M missiles and 132 drones. Ukraine reported its lowest interception rate in months. Russian forces advanced in the east, taking over half of Kostiantynivka and entering the Novoselovka microdistrict in Konstantynivka, while Lyman faced an expected eastern collapse within 10 days. However, Ukrainian forces recaptured the village of Prydorozhnje in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Ukraine responded with deep strikes into Russian territory. Drones hit the Moscow Oil Refinery's primary processing unit, causing a fire at the facility that supplies 40% of Moscow's gasoline and 50% of its diesel fuel. Additional drone attacks targeted the Krasnodar region's Poltavskaya oil depot and the Tula region. Russian authorities reported shooting down 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, with at least 60 intercepted near Moscow alone. The attacks forced Putin to pull nearly all key air defense systems to the capital, though they failed to fully protect the refinery. At the same time, Russia lost a Tu-22M3 bomber in a crash in the Irkutsk region, the fourth such loss in two years.
G7 Summit: Diplomatic Maneuvers and Security Concerns
The G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, saw significant diplomatic activity around the war in Ukraine. Zelensky proposed a meeting with Putin at the summit, stating that both Europe and the United States supported the idea, but he noted that the Russian side showed it is not ready for dialogue. Putin had previously dismissed Zelensky's earlier ceasefire offer. President Trump announced at the summit that after completing the operation in Iran, he will now focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, having had good conversations with both leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated Moscow remains committed to peace proposals reached in Anchorage but warned of European interference.
UK Prime Minister Starmer unveiled new sanctions targeting Russia's finance networks and shadow fleet, along with energy support for Ukraine including enriched uranium for nuclear power stations. Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced a unanimous victory in a 10-year international maritime arbitration against Ukraine, denying Kyiv compensation for resources in Crimea's waters and dismissing demands to dismantle the Crimean Bridge.
Ahead of the summit, Geneva police clashed with 20,000 protesters, deploying tear gas and water cannons after demonstrators set a Tesla on fire and smashed windows. Meanwhile, the EU formally approved the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a milestone in the enlargement process.
Russia-Linked Sabotage and Covert Operations in Europe
A Financial Times investigation, corroborated by the BBC, confirmed that a Russian state-backed network orchestrated the arson attacks on properties associated with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The network, linked to the pro-Kremlin group NoName057, recruited a London builder via Telegram who was paid in cryptocurrency to firebomb Starmer's former car, his old apartment, and his family home. The handler, using the nickname 'El Money,' had a digital footprint traced to Russia.
In Poland, Russian opposition caricaturist Robert Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot dead in a parking lot in Biała Podlaska. One suspect, reportedly a Belarusian national, was detained near the Belarusian consulate. Kuzovkov had fled Russia due to his political satire and was also listed on Ukraine's Mirotvorets database for spreading what it called 'Russian-fascist propaganda.'
Armenia Deepens Military Ties with NATO Countries
The Armenian Defense Ministry announced that NATO countries will conduct military exercises on Armenian territory. The Eagle Partner-2026 drills will involve the United States, France, Greece, and Armenia, with training focused on preparing for peacekeeping missions. The exercises mark a further deepening of Armenia's military cooperation with Western powers amid ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan.