A Russian attack on Kharkiv on June 7th using guided aerial bombs resulted in one death and over 40 injuries. The attack targeted the Shevchenkivskyi and Kyivskyi districts, damaging civilian infrastructure including a children’s railway. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as pure terrorism, emphasizing its lack of strategic value and calling for increased international pressure on Russia to end the conflict. He further highlighted the urgent need for strengthened Ukrainian air defenses, specifically requesting a positive response from the US regarding air defense systems.
Read More
A 46-year-old Ukrainian woman and her six-year-old daughter were discovered dead in Leuven, Belgium on June 6th, victims of a deliberate fire that followed stab wounds. The family had resided in Belgium for three years, and the mother’s 16-year-old son was unharmed at school during the incident. The father, a Ukrainian soldier, is currently serving in Ukraine. The ongoing investigation is exploring foul play, following a recent rise in attacks targeting Ukrainian citizens in Europe.
Read More
In commemoration of Journalist’s Day, Ukraine acknowledged the significant sacrifices made by its media professionals. At least 125 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been killed, 42 injured, and 31 remain held captive by Russia since the full-scale invasion began. The Verkhovna Rada expressed gratitude for their crucial role in exposing war crimes and countering Russian disinformation. This tragic toll underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict.
Read More
In response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv, involving over 400 drones and 40 missiles. The attack, one of the largest of the war, resulted in at least four deaths, including three emergency workers, and widespread damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a significant number of projectiles, but the assault caused extensive damage and casualties. The Kremlin justified the attack as a necessary response to perceived Ukrainian aggression, framing the conflict as an existential threat to Russia’s future.
Read More
A Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Pryluky killed at least five people, including a one-year-old child, his mother, and grandmother. The attack, one of many across several Ukrainian regions, followed a phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin, where Putin reportedly threatened retaliation for recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military bases. This incident, along with continued attacks in Kharkiv and Kherson, highlights the ongoing war of attrition and the lack of progress in U.S.-led peace efforts. Ukraine continues to call for increased international sanctions and stronger air defense capabilities.
Read More
In Istanbul talks on June 2nd, Ukraine presented Russia with a list of hundreds of deported Ukrainian children, demanding their return. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, dismissively rejected the list, reportedly mocking the Ukrainian effort as a performance for childless European women. This dismissive response followed prior meetings between Ukrainian delegates and representatives from Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and disagreements surrounding the issue of forcibly deported Ukrainian children.
Read More
In Russian-occupied Ukraine, homophobia and transphobia fuel widespread violence and war crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals. Organizations like Nash Svit and Projektor document these abuses, reporting a decrease in documented war crimes in recent years due to shifting frontlines and difficulties accessing information. However, testimonies consistently reveal a systemic pattern of targeting LGBTQ+ people, with Russian forces using their sexual orientation or gender identity as a pretext for violence, detention, and torture. These actions are supported by Kremlin propaganda framing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment as the defense of “traditional values.” Efforts are underway to document these crimes and pursue justice through both Ukrainian and international legal channels, despite significant challenges.
Read More
A Russian marine from the 40th Separate Marine Brigade has been charged by Ukraine’s SBU with war crimes for the January execution of two Ukrainian prisoners of war near Kursk. The soldier, captured after a subsequent firefight, allegedly shot the unarmed prisoners at point-blank range after their capture. This case contributes to mounting evidence of systemic war crimes against Ukrainian POWs, including numerous deaths in captivity and confirmed instances of deliberate killings by Russian forces. The accused faces life imprisonment if convicted under Ukraine’s Criminal Code for violating the Geneva Convention.
Read More
On May 31, a video surfaced showing eight Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, citing inhumane treatment and abuse within their own units as the reason for their surrender. The soldiers described horrific conditions, including beatings and “confinement pits,” mirroring documented patterns of abuse within the Russian army. This abuse, which has been extensively reported, involves systematic mistreatment and punishment of soldiers, often utilizing methods reminiscent of Soviet-era labor camps. The surrendering soldiers received medical and psychological care following their capture.
Read More
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher apologized for inaccurately stating that 14,000 babies faced imminent death in Gaza due to aid blockage, clarifying that the figure referred to a year’s worth of potential malnutrition cases, not a 48-hour period. He acknowledged the need for precise language while maintaining that Israel’s actions constitute a war crime by creating conditions of forced starvation. Fletcher also retracted claims of 10,000 ready aid trucks, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and calling on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to disavow policies contributing to the crisis. Despite the UN’s retraction and refusal to cooperate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the GHF has independently distributed over 1.8 million meals.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker