Key facts
- Russia is intensifying air attacks on Ukrainian cities.
- Russia's battlefield advances have significantly slowed.
- Russian attacks on June 9 resulted in at least 10 deaths and over 100 injuries across Ukraine.
- Ukraine's Air Force intercepted 146 of 168 drones.
- Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg for a second time.
- President Vladimir Putin rejected an offer for peace talks from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Russia launched overnight strikes near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
- Ukraine struck a Russian oil depot and other military targets.
- Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory are increasing discontent within Russia.
- President Zelenskyy met with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz in London.
- Discussions in London focused on defense cooperation and air defense systems.
Russia is escalating its air war on Ukraine, launching intensified air attacks on Ukrainian cities to offset stalled battlefield advances and significant resistance. Analysts suggest this strategy is intended to break Ukraine's will to fight and to conceal Moscow's battlefield weaknesses, as Russian gains have considerably slowed compared to the previous year. Overnight strikes on June 9 resulted in at least 10 deaths and over 100 injuries across Ukraine, with Russian forces launching missiles and drones. Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 146 out of 168 drones launched.
In a retaliatory move, Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg and its surrounding region for a second time. This occurred hours after President Vladimir Putin rejected an offer for peace talks extended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Details regarding damage and casualties from the St. Petersburg strikes were not immediately available. Russia also launched overnight strikes across Ukraine, including near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, following a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that its forces also struck a Russian oil depot and other military targets.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory are increasingly bringing the war home to Russian citizens, contributing to a rise in discontent within Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London. The discussions focused on defense cooperation, the provision of air defense systems, and diplomatic prospects for ending the Russia-Ukraine war.