Putin under pressure to declare war on Ukraine, but experts say Russia isn't ready
Despite suffering over 1 million casualties, pounding Ukrainian cities nightly with missiles and drones, and committing countless war crimes, one startling fact about Russia's full-scale invasion remains — Moscow has yet to officially declare war on Ukraine.
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin described what he believed was going to be a swift victory and the capture of Kyiv within days as a "special military operation."
Nearly three-and-a-half years later, the Kremlin is stuck with the term, caught in a quandary of its own making — waging by what any measure is a war, while being unable to call it one for fear of a domestic backlash.
Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
Despite suffering over 1 million casualties, pounding Ukrainian cities nightly with missiles and drones, and committing countless war crimes, one startling fact about Russia's full-scale invasion remains — Moscow has yet to officially declare war on Ukraine.
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin described what he believed was going to be a swift victory and the capture of Kyiv within days as a "special military operation."
Nearly three-and-a-half years later, the Kremlin is stuck with the term, caught in a quandary of its own making — waging by what any measure is a war, while being unable to call it one for fear of a domestic backlash.
Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
⚡️EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia, source says.
The agreement comes amid fears that Hungary, one of the bloc's most Kremlin-friendly member states, would attempt to block the sanctions extension.
The agreement comes amid fears that Hungary, one of the bloc's most Kremlin-friendly member states, would attempt to block the sanctions extension.
⚡️Trump wants to slash war crimes investigation funds, Reuters reports.
One of the groups targeted for termination is Global Rights Compliance, which gathers evidence of Russian war crimes across Ukraine, including torture and sexual violence.
One of the groups targeted for termination is Global Rights Compliance, which gathers evidence of Russian war crimes across Ukraine, including torture and sexual violence.
⚡️European companies shipping critical missile parts to Russia, Zelensky tells EU.
"Some European companies are still sending critical components to Russia. These end up in missiles and other weapons used to kill us, kill Ukrainians."
"Some European companies are still sending critical components to Russia. These end up in missiles and other weapons used to kill us, kill Ukrainians."
⚡️Russia offers cash to teachers to Russify occupied Ukraine, report says.
Over 100 teachers have relocated to Crimea through the program, according to Ukraine’s Regional Center for Human Rights. Most of them arrived from regions including Krasnodar, Altai Krai, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Saratov, Tyumen, Ivanovo, and the Republic of Udmurtia.
Over 100 teachers have relocated to Crimea through the program, according to Ukraine’s Regional Center for Human Rights. Most of them arrived from regions including Krasnodar, Altai Krai, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Saratov, Tyumen, Ivanovo, and the Republic of Udmurtia.
⚡️Russia’s relentless drone strikes cause over 3,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, UN reports.
Short-range drone attacks have become one of the deadliest threats to civilians in Ukraine’s front-line regions, killing at least 395 people and injuring 2,635 between February 2022 and April 2025, according to a new bulletin by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Short-range drone attacks have become one of the deadliest threats to civilians in Ukraine’s front-line regions, killing at least 395 people and injuring 2,635 between February 2022 and April 2025, according to a new bulletin by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
⚡️Netherlands, Belgium hand over 2 minehunters to boost Ukraine’s naval defenses.
The official handover ceremony took place earlier in Belgium, but was disclosed only later due to security concerns.
The official handover ceremony took place earlier in Belgium, but was disclosed only later due to security concerns.
⚡️Chinese journalist injured by drone strike in Kursk Oblast, Russian governor says.
According to acting Kursk Oblast governor Alexander Khinshtein, 63-year-old reporter Lu Yuguang from the Chinese television network Phoenix TV was wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on the village of Korenevo.
According to acting Kursk Oblast governor Alexander Khinshtein, 63-year-old reporter Lu Yuguang from the Chinese television network Phoenix TV was wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on the village of Korenevo.
⚡️Update: Death toll in Russian June 24 attack on Dnipro rises to at least 21, more than 300 injured.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on June 27 that the death toll in Dnipro rose to 21. Earlier, the governor said that more than 300 people were injured in the attack.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on June 27 that the death toll in Dnipro rose to 21. Earlier, the governor said that more than 300 people were injured in the attack.
⚡️Anti-corruption agencies seek Ukrainian deputy prime minister’s suspension as pre-trial restriction.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov was officially named a suspect on June 23 in what Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau called a "large-scale" illegal land grab case.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov was officially named a suspect on June 23 in what Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau called a "large-scale" illegal land grab case.
⚡️Ukraine seeks Zelensky-Putin meeting as next step in ceasefire negotiations.
"After completing discussions on humanitarian issues, Ukraine plans to move forward to the topic of a leaders' summit for substantive dialogue," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said during a press briefing on June 26.
"After completing discussions on humanitarian issues, Ukraine plans to move forward to the topic of a leaders' summit for substantive dialogue," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said during a press briefing on June 26.
⚡️North Korea deployed 20% of Kim’s elite ‘personal reserve’ to fight against Ukraine in Russia, Umerov says.
"These are soldiers specially selected based on physical, psychological, and other criteria," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. "These units have already suffered significant losses."
"These are soldiers specially selected based on physical, psychological, and other criteria," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. "These units have already suffered significant losses."
⚡️At least 2 killed, 13 wounded in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Ukrainian air defense intercepted 365 of 371 incoming Russian air weapons, including 363 Shahed-type drones, two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and six Kalibr cruise missiles.
Photo: Vadym Filashkin / Telegram
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Ukrainian air defense intercepted 365 of 371 incoming Russian air weapons, including 363 Shahed-type drones, two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and six Kalibr cruise missiles.
Photo: Vadym Filashkin / Telegram
⚡️Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast city kills 4, injures 17.
Governor Serhii Lysak said most of the injured were hospitalized. Three of the victims are in serious condition, while the others sustained moderate injuries.
Governor Serhii Lysak said most of the injured were hospitalized. Three of the victims are in serious condition, while the others sustained moderate injuries.
⚡️Update: Death toll in Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast city rises to 5, 23 injured.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said most of the injured were hospitalized. Four of the victims are in serious condition, while the others sustained moderate injuries.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said most of the injured were hospitalized. Four of the victims are in serious condition, while the others sustained moderate injuries.
⚡️Ukraine to seek EU sanctions against Bangladesh over Russia-stolen grain import.
"It's a crime," Ukraine's ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, told Reuters. "We will share our investigation with our EU colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures."
"It's a crime," Ukraine's ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, told Reuters. "We will share our investigation with our EU colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures."
⚡️'Resilience and confident actions' — Umerov praises Ukraine's new 18-24-year-old recruits.
"We saw them on the battlefield — and it's truly motivating," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
"We saw them on the battlefield — and it's truly motivating," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
⚡️Russian attack on key energy facility plunges parts of southern Ukraine 'into darkness,' governor says.
"Russia decided to plunge Kherson Oblast into darkness," Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram. He said the attack has disrupted electricity supply to multiple settlements.
"Russia decided to plunge Kherson Oblast into darkness," Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram. He said the attack has disrupted electricity supply to multiple settlements.
⚡️Zelensky signs decree to synchronize Russia sanctions with EU, G7.
A day earlier, EU member states' leaders gave their political consent to extend the sanctions previously imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine.
A day earlier, EU member states' leaders gave their political consent to extend the sanctions previously imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine.