War in Ukraine today: latest news, 26 June 2025 (photo)

It has been the 1219 th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. 

 

What happened in Ukraine today:

Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 6 pm:   

The invaders continue to assault the positions of Ukrainian defenders. Since the beginning of the day, 79 combat engagements have taken place.

Border settlements, including Ulanove, Bachivsk, Kucheriivka, and Seredyna-Buda in the Sumy region, are suffering from artillery shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation.

Ukrainian defenders have already repelled eight out of fourteen enemy attacks in the North-Slobozhansky and Kursk directions; fighting is still ongoing. The enemy also carried out an airstrike, dropping four guided bombs (KABs), and conducted 100 shellings, including one with a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).

In the South-Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attacked our positions five times near the settlements of Hlyboke, Zybine, Kamyanka, Kindrashivka, and Mala Shapkivka. Our warriors provided a worthy response.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions four times in the areas of Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Zelenyi Hai. One battle is still ongoing.

In the Lyman direction, the occupying army launched 11 attacks near the settlements of Hrekivka, Novyi Myr, Ridkodub, and in the directions of Olhivka, Kolodiazi, Zelena Dolyna, and Torske. Defense forces repelled nine enemy attempts to advance; two clashes are still ongoing.

In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Defense Forces twice, near Markove and Bila Hora.

In the Toretsk direction today, the enemy launched five attacks in the areas of Yablunivka and Rusyn Yar. One engagement is still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsk direction, since the beginning of the day, the occupiers have attempted 26 assaults to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions near the settlements of Poltavka, Malynivka, Shevchenko Pershe, Myrne, Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Myrnohrad, Novosergiivka, Udachne, Oleksiivka, Novoukrainka, and in the direction of Volodymyrivka. The Defense Forces are holding back the enemy’s pressure and have repelled 21 attacks; five engagements are still ongoing. Enemy losses are being clarified.

Today in the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy attacked eight times near the settlements of Zirka, Yalta, Zaporizhzhia, Bahatyr, Fedorivka, and Odradne. Two combat engagements are still ongoing.

In the Orikhiv direction, the aggressor carried out airstrikes on the areas of Stepnohirsk, Prymorske, and Kamianske.

In the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy made four unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our defenders and also carried out an airstrike using unguided rockets on Kozatske.

In the Huliaipole and Orikhiv directions, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions.

In other areas of the front, the situation has not undergone significant changes.

Another group of Ukrainian prisoners of war has been exchanged. This was reported by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. The group includes servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service, most of whom had been in captivity since 2022.

The advancement of Russian troops in the border areas of the Sumy region has been halted. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The line of contact has been stabilized.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

Frontline

Over the past day, 154 combat engagements were recorded.

In the South-Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian defenders’ positions eight times near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Lyptsi.

In the Kupiansk direction, four enemy attacks took place yesterday. Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled assaults in the areas of Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, and Zelenyi Hai.

Shelling

During the past day, five settlements in the Kharkiv region came under enemy fire.

In the village of Petro-Ivanivka (Dvorichna community), a 60-year-old man was killed.

The enemy struck the Kharkiv region using:

▪️ 7 guided aerial bombs (KABs)
▪️ 4 Shahed-type UAVs
▪️ 4 Geran-2-type UAVs
▪️ 2 FPV drones

In the Kupiansk district, eight private homes were damaged (village of Hryhorivka).

In the Izium district, a café building and the windows of a five-story residential building (in the city of Izium) were damaged.

Other

Over 260 hectares of territory in the Kharkiv region have been demined over the past week.
A total of 2,114 explosive devices were neutralized.

Donetsk oblast

After midnight, Russia launched 9 more drone strikes on Donetsk region.

As a result of two Geran-2 UAV hits in Bilozerke, four civilians were injured, including a child. Three apartment buildings and seven civilian vehicles were damaged.

In Oleksandrivka, one person was injured during an attack involving four drones. An apartment building, a business facility, and a vehicle were damaged.

In Druzhkivka, a drone damaged a House of Culture.

Due to Russian shelling in Donetsk region, two people were killed and 14 injured, including a child.

Over the past day, police recorded 3,046 enemy strikes on the frontline and residential areas. Russia used 30 drones against civilians.

Russian forces attacked 13 settlements: the cities of Bilytske, Dobropillia, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, and the villages of Zoloti Prudy, Illinivka, Novoandriivka, Novovodiane, Novopetrivka, Novoyavlenka, and Torske.

A total of 73 civilian sites were damaged, including 50 residential houses.

In Pokrovsk, the enemy used FPV drones, killing one civilian and injuring two others. Three private homes and a civilian vehicle with people inside were damaged.

Novoyavlenka (Kramatorsk district) was struck by two Geran-2 UAVs – one person was killed and another injured. Two private homes and a civilian car were damaged.

In Kostiantynivka, the enemy launched five strikes with drones and artillery – five civilians were wounded, and 16 private houses were damaged.

One person was injured in Torske (Druzhkivka community) during a strike involving five Geran-2 UAVs. Sixteen private houses, a garage, an outbuilding, and seven vehicles were damaged.

Druzhkivka was hit by two drones, which damaged a private house and two civilian vehicles.

In Illinivka, two KAB-250 bombs struck, damaging an educational institution and a boiler house.

In Zoloti Prudy (Oleksandrivka community), enemy drones damaged five private homes.

In Novopetrivka (Kramatorsk district), the aggressor launched an R-37 missile strike, damaging three utility structures and a garage.

Drone attacks in Rodynske damaged both a multi-story apartment building and a private home. In Dobropillia, two private homes were damaged. In Bilytske, a sports palace and a civilian vehicle were hit.

Seven Geran-2 drones struck Novovodiane (Bilozerka community), damaging three private homes and a farm.

Luhansk oblast

Trying to advance on the Lyman section of the frontline, the enemy launched several assaults near Hrekivka and Nadiia.
The attacks were withstood, according to the Regional Military Administration.

In the so-called “LNR,” the liquidation of educational institutions continues.
More than 100 general secondary education institutions are affected by the so-called reform.
One reason for the cuts is a lack of funding for the education sector.
The other is openly stated by the so-called “Ministry of Education and Science of the LNR” — a demographic crisis has emerged in the occupied part of Luhansk region, which is expected to last at least until 2028.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Grynychuk announced that Ukraine will receive €42.5 million from partners to restore the arch at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. France will allocate €10.6 million, the United Kingdom €6.9 million, and the European Commission €25 million.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, rescuers completed emergency restoration work at the site of a destroyed entrance to a five-story building, where on the night of 23 June 2025, russian troops fired a missile and killed nine people. Rescuers worked in shifts for almost three days. They dismantled and removed more than 1,900 cubic metres of debris and building structures. In total, about 100 people and 29 units of rescue and engineering equipment were involved in the work.

Capital officials presented awards to children who helped clear debris in the area of Vatslav Havel Boulevard in the Solomyanskyi district after the russian attack on the night of 17 June. The head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Timur Tkachenko, also announced that residents of damaged apartments in the area would receive compensation by 30 June.

The Kyiv City State Administration reported that since the start of the full-scale invasion, 25 apartment buildings damaged by shelling have already been repaired in the capital. Repair work is still ongoing in seven more buildings. In total, around 2,400 buildings and structures have been damaged in Kyiv since 2022. Most of them — over 1,600 — are multi-storey residential buildings.

On 25 June, an art installation called ‘Awareness’ dedicated to the territorial defence fighters who stood up to defend the state at the start of russia’s full-scale invasion was unveiled in Obolon, Kyiv. The composition was installed in the north of the capital for a reason — it was here in February 2022 that the defence forces, in particular the Territorial Defence brigades, held back the advance of the russian army, which was trying to enter Kyiv.

Zhytomyr oblast

The Zhytomyr Regional State Administration reported that, thanks to the latest prisoner exchange, a soldier from the village of Zubivshchyna in the Korosten district has returned to his homeland. 

The Zhytomyr city territorial community budget allocated 380,000 hryvnias to ensure the participation of veteran athletes in the world championship and competitions in Ukraine. The decision was made at a regular session of the city council.

Sumy oblast

According to Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the advance of russian troops into border areas of Sumy oblast has been halted, and the frontline has been stabilized. Towards Northern Slobozhanskyi and Kursk, Ukrainian forces have contained approximately 50,000 russian troops. Additionally, Ukrainian offensive in Hlushkiv region of Kursk oblast has weakened russia’s offensive capabilities on Sumy front.

Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine i=reported that Ukrainian airborne troops, together with adjacent units, have captured 15 russian servicemen in Sumy oblast. Most of the prisoners are soldiers from the 810th and 155th separate marine brigades

The Regional Military Administration informed that over the past day, from the morning of 25 June to the morning of 26 June, russian forces carried out nearly 60 attacks on 30 settlements across 15 territorial communities in Sumy oblast. The highest number of strikes were recorded in Sumy and Shostka regions. The enemy heavily used drone-dropped explosive grenades (30 strikes) and also launched FPV-drone and UAV attacks.

Enemy shelling has destroyed private residential buildings in Yunakivka community and damaged a private house, an outbuilding, a summer kitchen, and a car in Seredyna-Buda community

Over the past day, 61 people were evacuated from border communities by local authorities, in coordination with State Emergency Service units, the National Police, and public organizations.

According to the State Environmental Inspectorate, the damage caused by russian forces to hydraulic structures in Velyka Pysarivka community, located on Bratenytsia River, amounts to over UAH 27m. The attack, carried out on 19 May 2025, led to the destruction of engineering structures, resulting in an uncontrolled water leak from surface water bodies and significant environmental harm.

Chernihiv oblast

Chernihiv Border Detachment reported that on 25 June, russian forces attacked three border communities in Chernihiv oblast — Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, and Snovsk.

The assaults included:

• 1 explosion by barrel artillery
• 12 strikes by an infantry fighting vehicle
• 19 explosions by FPV-drones
• 10 explosions by UAV-dropped explosive devices

The attacks targeted 10 settlements in the oblast.

As a result of russian strikes, a non-residential building caught fire in Hremiach village, Novhorod-Siverskyi community. Additionally, in Medvedivka, Semenivka community, a warehouse and a vehicle were damaged.

In Sosnytsia, Chernihiv oblast, a solar power station has been installed at the local lyceum, thanks to Swiss partners. This is the third such station in the community. The first two, already operating at the hospital and water utility, have helped the community save over UAH 300,000.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Mykola Lukashuk, Head of the RMA, as a result of a russian attack in Dniprovskiy district, damage was reported on the premises of a recreational area. From evening until morning, russian forces continued to strike Nikopol region by drones and artillery, targeting the regional centre, Pokrov, Myrove and Marhanets communities. The attacks caused fires and damaged a café, an administrative building, 3 private houses, 2 utility structures, a municipal enterprise and a vehicle. According to updated information, there were 22 people killed in a missile strike in the oblast.

Kirovohrad oblast

In Novomyrhorod, Novoukrainka region, a memorial ceremony was held for 35-year-old sailor Andrii Shevchenko, who was killed in Donetsk oblast.

Poltava oblast

In Poltava, a memorial plaque was installed on the facade of Secondary School No. 4 in honour of Ihor Shapochka, a fallen graduate of the institution. He served as a grenade launcher operator in a rifle battalion and killed in July 2022.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia RMA, reported that 18 defenders from Zaporizhzhia oblast have returned home from russian captivity. Most had been held since 2022.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 1 russian assault near Malynivka was repelled by Ukrainian Defence Forces on Huliaipole region and enemy forces attempted to advance toward Novoandriivka on Orikhiv region.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, stated that on 25 June, the russian military launched 430 strikes on 13 towns and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast. These included 276 drone attacks, mostly FPV drones, targeting Mariivka, Prymorske, Lobkove, Kamianske, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka and Charivne.

The RMA informed that 37 buses have been delivered to Zaporizhzhia oblast from international donors and will operate on city routes in Zaporizhzhia. These buses will be technically inspected and deployed on city routes. By the end of the year, the municipal fleet is expected to grow by another 50 buses, with contributions from partners in France, Italy and Switzerland.

Mykolaiv oblast

Referring to the RMA, on 25 June, russian troops attacked Kutsurub community 12 times by FPV drones and twice by artillery. As a result, 5 houses were damaged and dry grass and a wheat field caught fire. There were no injuries reported. The community came under drone attack again on the morning of 26 June.

The waters of Ochakiv and Ochakiv community were targeted yesterday.

Odesa oblast

According to Ukrainian Naval Forces, as of 6am, no russian warships were reported in the Black Sea or Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean, 2 russian warships were present, but none equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles.

Kherson oblast

Based on the information provided by Kherson RMA, russian forces attacked Dudchany, Kachkarivka and Mykhailivka in Kherson oblast. Residential buildings were hit. There were no casualties reported.

A 59-year-old woman from Antonivka was hospitalised after stepping on a russian PFM-1 “butterfly” landmine back on 18 May. She suffered a blast injury and the amputation of 3 toes.

The CMA informed that a morning russian shelling of Korabelnyi district of Kherson damaged a municipal administration building, an educational institution and a healthcare facility.

The RMA reported that russian artillery struck Dniprovskyi district of Kherson, injuring a 64-year-old woman, whose condition is described as mild.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, stated that on 25 June, 3 people were killed and 13 injured in russian attacks on 42 settlements across Kherson oblast. Damaged infrastructure includes a gas pipeline, a cellular tower, 2 high-rise buildings, 16 private houses, a gas station, storage facilities, a farm structure and civilian vehicles.

According to the CMA, around 4:30am, russian forces shelled Korabelnyi district again, injuring a 71-year-old woman who was inside her home. She received medical assistance on site.

The RMA added that russian aircraft dropped KABs on Tavriiske in Bilozirka community. A 34-year-old man was injured, suffering a concussion, shrapnel wound to the thigh, blast and head trauma. Another man, born in 1987, was killed in the airstrike.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

Novovolynsk met defender Dmytro Aksenenko, who was released from captivity. The soldier spent 21 months in captivity. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Zakarpattia oblast

The With Ukraine in the Heart exhibition was opened in Uzhhorod. It tells the personal stories of 28 Belarusian volunteers who died for Ukraine since the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity and during the full-scale war.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

20 FPV drones and a Mavic were sent to the 79th Separate Tavria Airborne Assault Brigade from Ivano-Frankivsk community.

Lviv oblast

Roman Yunko, soldier of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, was awarded with the For Wounding Order by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. In February 2022, he volunteered to go to war. In 2024, he was wounded while performing a combat mission. In January 2025, he was discharged from service due to health reasons.

Rivne oblast

Rivne RMA sent 6 cars to the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine in the first half of the year. One of them, a Volkswagen minibus, was sent today. All cars were confiscated as state revenue from violators of customs legislation and within the framework of criminal proceedings.

Ternopil oblast

A training seminar Support System for Veterans and Their Families in the Oblast was held in Ternopil. The main goal is to improve the support network for veterans, defenders and their families at the community level.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

The Honorary Citizen of the City of Slavuta title (posthumously) was awarded to 15 more servicemen. Certificates and badges Honorary Citizen of the City of Slavuta were presented to family members of the heroes.

Chernivtsi oblast

Petro Shcherbaty, 42-year-old Bukovinian soldier from the village of Shubranets, Horishnyosherovetsk community, Chernivtsi region, was freed from enemy captivity. The soldier was captured in Kherson oblast in December 2023.

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

In Strasbourg, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, signed an Agreement on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine will receive EUR 42.5m from partners to restore the arch at the Chernobyl NPP. France is allocating EUR 10.6m, the UK – EUR 6.9m and the European Commission – EUR 25m.

 

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Materials compiled by Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia 

Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova

 

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