Here is the situation on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Fighting

• One woman was killed, four people injured, and many buildings damaged in multiple Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s southern Belgorod region, as reported by Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the area adjacent to Ukraine.
• Vadym Filashkin, the governor of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, issued an evacuation order for children and their guardians from several frontline towns and villages due to advancing Russian forces.
• The Institute for the Study of War in Washington, DC, stated that Russian forces are making significant tactical and operational efforts before the arrival of anticipated Western supplies on the battlefront.
• Russia conducted a bombardment with 42 glide bombs on the northeastern Kharkiv region within a 24-hour timeframe, with no injuries reported.
• Ukraine targeted an ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh region, resulting in a fire but no casualties, as confirmed by Governor Alexander Gusev.

Politics and Diplomacy

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for former Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and army chief General Valery Gerasimov for attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
• The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Russia guilty of systematic human rights violations in Crimea, which was invaded and annexed in 2014.
• Both Russia and Ukraine exchanged 90 prisoners of war with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates.
• US and Russian defense chiefs engaged in a telephone conversation after over a year. Discussions emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication lines and addressed concerns about ongoing weapon supplies to Ukraine.
• Russia imposed a ban on 81 EU media outlets in response to the EU’s similar actions against Russian media, accusing the banned entities of spreading false information about the conflict.
• The EU initiated membership talks with Ukraine, marking a historic moment according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
• A plan proposed to Donald Trump by key advisers aimed at ending the war in Ukraine involves linking US weapons support to Ukraine with peace negotiations while warning Russia of increased US assistance in case of refusal to engage in talks.

Weapons

• Ukraine reported shooting down 1,953 Shahed drones out of 2,277 launched by Russia this year.
• Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed the arrival of the first shipment of ammunition under a Prague-led initiative supported by NATO allies to supply artillery shells to Ukraine.