Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang on June 19, where he met with Kim Jong Un. Both parties signed a "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," committing to mutual assistance in the event of an attack. Putin emphasized the importance of mutual respect in Russian-North Korean relations and expressed appreciation for North Korea's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kim Jong Un praised Russia for its global stabilizing role and pledged "unconditional support" for Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Finnish military intelligence revealed that 80% of Russian ground forces stationed near Finland had been redeployed to Ukraine. A similar situation was observed in other regions of Russia, except for Moscow Oblast. Satellite images confirmed a reduction in troop numbers, including at the military base in Petrozavodsk.

The Ukrainian authorities launched a national registry documenting cases of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers. As part of a pilot project, five individuals were sentenced in absentia. Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the execution of four Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers near Robotyne in late May 2024. A video showed the prisoners being shot after being forced to lie on the ground. The identities of the perpetrators, including officers from Russia's 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment, were established. Simultaneously, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin confirmed the identities of both the victim and perpetrator in an incident where Russian soldiers beheaded a Ukrainian soldier and mounted the head on a military vehicle in Donetsk Oblast.

On June 21, the United States expanded the scope of Ukraine's use of American weapons, allowing their use against military targets in Russia outside the immediate vicinity of Kharkiv Oblast, provided these actions served self-defense purposes. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced cooperation with another country to supply Ukraine with Patriot system components, including radars and launchers.

EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced that Ukraine would receive the first tranche of $1.6 billion from the profits of frozen Russian assets in the EU before the summer recess. In 2024, Ukraine is set to receive a total of $3.2 billion from these funds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Oleksiy Morozov as the new head of the State Security Administration, replacing Serhiy Ruda, who was dismissed on May 9 due to the detection of Russian agents within the institution's structures.

On June 22, Russian forces conducted a massive attack on energy infrastructure in southern and western Ukraine, using 16 missiles. Ukrainian air defense intercepted 12 missiles and all drones. In Lviv Oblast, a missile caused a fire at an energy facility, while in Ivano-Frankivsk, university buildings, residential properties, and a kindergarten were damaged. Attacks were also reported in Volyn, Vinnytsia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.

In Kharkiv, Russia conducted four attacks on a residential district using glide bombs, killing three people and injuring 54, including three children. Russian forces also targeted a police checkpoint in Kherson Oblast, killing one officer. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia had launched over 2,400 guided bombs since the beginning of the month, with 700 directed at Kharkiv.

Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian positions near Mariupol, Stary Krym, and Nikolske, destroying air defense systems and damaging military equipment. Regional media reported strikes on a Pantsir-S1 system in the village of Dubovoye, where residential roofs and vehicles were also damaged.

According to Financial Times, Serbia has increased ammunition sales worth approximately €800 million, which, through third countries, end up in Ukraine. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Ukraine had received permission to strike targets in Russia up to 100 km from the border, though the Ukrainian military remained skeptical about the extent of this leeway.

Illustrative photo. Generated by AI