Did you miss the newest occasions on the battle in Ukraine? 20 Minutes takes inventory for you each night. Right here is the gist of this Thursday, June 18, 2026, on the 1,575th day of the battle.
Truth of the day
Based on the official Russian press company TASS, it will be the largest attack on Moscow for at the least two years. Early within the morning, Ukraine launched a significant drone assault on Moscow, upsetting fires in the region across the Russian capital.
A number of projectiles hit the refinery of the Russian company Gazpromneft situated within the Kapotnia district within the southeast of Moscow. Spectacular bombings which come at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes senior Asian leaders at a summit in Kazan. And the place it’s a query, amongst different issues, of the continuation of deliveries of Russian hydrocarbons to Asia.
Not less than 17 folks, together with two kids, had been injured, in response to the governor.
At this time’s assertion
« We don’t need this battle and have by no means needed it (…) But when Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too »
Following the assaults on Moscow, Ukrainian chief Volodymyr Zelensky stated they had been meant to point out the Russian inhabitants that “one man”, President Vladimir Putin, was liable for persevering with the battle.
“The principle factor is that the Russian individuals are beginning to really feel that one man, Putin, is main this battle whereas odd individuals are paying the worth,” he stated in an audio message despatched to the press. Then including: “we don’t need this battle and have by no means needed it (…) But when Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too”.
The variety of the day
522. That is the variety of stays that kyiv stated it acquired from Moscow. These would primarily be suspected fighters.
“Because of repatriation efforts, the our bodies of 522 deceased people had been returned to Ukraine. Based on the Russian aspect, the our bodies belong to Ukrainian residents, particularly fighters,” the Ukrainian Heart for Prisoners of Struggle stated on Telegram. The deceased should nonetheless be recognized, the press launch specifies.
Ukraine, for its half, handed over 33 our bodies to Russia, in response to Russian MP Shamsaïl Saraliev, member of the parliamentary coordination group on the battle, quoted by the media RBK. Data that kyiv has not confirmed.
These exchanges represent one of many uncommon outcomes of negotiations between the 2 nations.
The development
The Russians are offended. In response to the Ukrainian drone assault, Russia threatened Ukraine with additional “large strikes” towards its army installations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t point out the assault in his speech throughout the plenary session of the summit he’s holding in Kazan. But it surely was his Minister of Overseas Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, who took accountability for responding. Requested about this assault, the top of Russian diplomacy recalled that President Putin had already introduced that Russia would perform “large strikes” towards Ukraine. “Our armed forces are engaged on it and can proceed to work on it,” he stated.
A truce between the 2 nations is due to this fact removed from being signed.
