Russia Ukraine News Live: Kremlin: North Korea to send 5,000 workers to Russia

The Kremlin has announced that North Korea will send 5,000 workers to Russia, adding to thousands of North Korean laborers already present in the country, the New York Times said in a report. According to the article's description, this new contingent is reportedly destined for a region involved in the Ukraine conflict. This development occurs despite existing UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit member states from hosting North Korean laborers.

Slovakia's populist Prime Minister suggested on Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral, a statement made as officials prepare for a NATO summit where alliance strategy regarding the Russia-Ukraine war will be a key topic, AP said in a report. These remarks came before the Prime Minister was scheduled to meet with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals for increasing defense spending to meet NATO targets, which are under scrutiny due to the conflict. The Slovakian leader also accused Western leaders involved in supporting Ukraine of being "warmongers" who enable weapons profiteering.

Ukraine and Russia recently conducted an exchange involving the bodies of deceased soldiers, X says in a report. This repatriation of remains is a humanitarian action, consistent with international humanitarian law, and has occurred previously during the conflict even amidst ongoing intense fighting, without necessarily indicating broader de-escalation or progress in peace negotiations.

Russian forces attacked multiple Ukrainian cities using 440 drones and 32 missiles, resulting in the destruction of a building in Kyiv, The Washington Post said in a report. Concurrently, at the G-7 summit, US President Donald Trump did not commit to implementing new sanctions against Russia.

The Czech Republic’s top diplomat announced that his country is ready to continue its program of supplying heavy ammunition to Ukraine through 2026, Bloomberg said in a report. This commitment comes as European nations are accelerating efforts to provide greater assistance to Kyiv amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Russia claims its air defenses destroyed over 200 Ukrainian drones across the country on Tuesday, The Moscow Times said in a report. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that emergency services were responding to two drones that crashed while approaching the Russian capital.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested on Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit scheduled for next week, AP says in a report. Fico made these remarks before a meeting with political party leaders and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals for increasing defense spending to meet NATO targets. He also accused Western leaders of being "warmongers" who enable weapons profiteering in their support related to the ongoing conflict.

A woman has died in the village of Goncharovka in Russia's Kursk region after sustaining shrapnel wounds from a Ukrainian drone attack, The Moscow Times said in a report. Authorities had previously stated that the woman was injured while milking a cow and had been hospitalized before her death.

NATO is set to end its policy of publicly disclosing specific details regarding aid provided to Ukraine and its defense planning strategies, The Moscow Times said in a report. This decision stems from the alliance's concerns that Russia has been actively using this transparently shared information for its propaganda campaigns and for military intelligence gathering, potentially to track aid, assess Ukrainian capabilities, or target deliveries. The change means that while aid and planning activities will continue, NATO will cease the systematic, official release of detailed figures and plans, though some information might still become available through individual member states or other channels.

The European Union has presented more details of a proposed ban on Russian gas imports, a measure that would utilize EU trade and energy laws rather than traditional sanctions mechanisms requiring unanimous member state approval, The Moscow Times said in a report. This approach is specifically designed to circumvent potential opposition from countries like Hungary and Slovakia, which have previously expressed concerns or sought exemptions regarding energy sanctions on Russia due to their significant dependence on Russian supplies. The proposed ban is part of the EU's broader strategy to exert economic pressure on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and to decrease the bloc's reliance on Russian energy sources.

Ukrainians residing in European Union countries will have access to more affordable mobile phone calls and text messages beginning in 2026, according to a report in Politico. This initiative, part of the EU's support for Ukraine, aims to help Ukrainian citizens maintain connections with family and friends both within the EU and in their home country. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “We want Ukrainian citizens to stay connected to their loved ones across the EU, as well as in their home country.” The plan is expected to integrate Ukraine into a system similar to the EU's 'roam like at home' regulation, significantly reducing or eliminating extra roaming charges.

Record numbers of high-flying Russian drone swarms are overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses, compelling Ukraine to develop new countermeasures, Kyiv Post said in a report. These drones are reportedly operating at altitudes that make them difficult for some Ukrainian gun-based air defense systems to intercept, effectively 'outflying' these defenses and necessitating new defensive strategies from Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump did not attend a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and departed the G7 summit ahead of schedule, Kyiv Post said in a report. Trump told reporters on Monday night, June 16, 2025, that he had to "be back, as soon as I can." The report also notes that a Western diplomat told Kyiv Post that the US President is “mistaken” about Russia.

The Trump administration has effectively disbanded an interagency working group, established just three months prior with the goal of developing a strategy to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine, Meduza said in a report. According to Meduza's account on Tuesday, the information about the disbandment originated from three U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has published its daily assessment of the Russian offensive campaign in Ukraine, dated June 16, 2025, Kyiv Post said in a report. These reports from ISW are based on open-source intelligence and typically analyze developments such as recent Western military aid packages and deliveries, Russian political statements concerning war mobilization or strategic objectives, and Ukrainian government communications regarding their military strategy and counteroffensive plans.

A deadly wave of Russian strikes killed at least 14 people in Kyiv, prompting Ukrainian leaders to criticize what they described as a lack of an 'adequate' international response, Kyiv Post said in a report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the attacks as 'pure terrorism.'

North Korea intends to send 1,000 deminers and 5,000 military construction workers to Russia's Kursk region to aid in reconstruction efforts, according to a report in AP citing Russian state media. This development, announced by Russian security official Sergei Shoigu via RIA Novosti, signals a further strengthening of the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. The deployment is specifically targeted at the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'pure terrorism', The Independent said in a report. This accusation is part of the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, which also saw Russian news agency Interfax quote Russia's Security Council.

The ruble has now surpassed the U.S. dollar as the primary currency for Russian export payments, The Moscow Times said in a report. This significant change is reportedly driven by the increasing use of opaque payment systems rather than by a growth in global confidence in the Russian currency itself. This development is occurring amidst Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine and Russia's continued de-dollarization efforts.

Kyiv's mayor reported that Russian forces utilized cluster munitions during an overnight strike on Ukraine on June 17, the Kyiv Independent says in a report. This reported incident occurs amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks targeting Ukrainian cities.

The Russia-Ukraine war is creating substantial challenges for the US Federal Reserve, influencing its assessment of inflationary pressures and overall economic stability, Financial Times said in a report. War-related disruptions to global energy and food markets, alongside sanctions, are identified as key factors exacerbating inflation. This situation presents the Federal Reserve with a difficult balancing act: tightening monetary policy to curb rising prices risks triggering a recession, particularly as traditional monetary tools are less effective against supply-side shocks driven by the conflict. Consequently, significant developments in the war, such as changes on the front lines or new sanctions, have the potential to alter global economic forecasts and directly impact the central bank's policy decisions.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained an unidentified man in Crimea on suspicion of espionage for Ukraine, The Moscow Times said in a report. The individual is accused of collecting and transmitting photographs and videos detailing the locations and operations of Russian air defense systems to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

Ukrainian officials reported that a combined Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight Tuesday, June 17, 2025, caused deaths and left dozens of people wounded, AP said in a report. The information was released alongside a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors depicting the aftermath of the attack.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for what Russian state media described as his second visit this month, where he is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, AP said in a report. Shoigu is reportedly on a "special" mission from Russian President Vladimir Putin, further cementing the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang; such high-level engagement is closely watched for its potential impact on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, particularly concerning potential arms transfers. North Korean state media had not immediately reported on Shoigu's arrival.

Ukrainian officials have reported that a Russian drone and missile attack on the capital, Kyiv, has killed 14 people and wounded 44 others, AP says in a report. The attack targeted Ukraine's capital city, leading to significant civilian casualties.

The Nevinnomyssk Azot chemical plant in Russia, identified as a key supplier to the Kremlin's military-industrial complex, has suspended its production following Ukrainian drone strikes, Kyiv Independent says in a report. Russian independent media reported on June 16 that the facility suspended production after being targeted.

The head of the world's largest business organization believes investing in wartime Ukraine is 'worth it,' provided there is a 'nuanced understanding of risk,' Kyiv Independent said in a report. This assessment from the business leader highlights the perceived potential for investment in the country despite the ongoing conflict and associated challenges.

Waves of Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv early Tuesday, sparking fires and causing casualties, according to a report in France 24. The city's mayor reported that the attacks killed at least one person, a US citizen, and left 16 others injured.

At least 20 people were wounded in Kyiv overnight Tuesday following a combined Russian drone and missile attack, AP said in a report. Kyiv's Mayor Vitalii Klitschko stated that nine people were injured in the city's Sviatoshynskyi district and an additional 11 in the Solomianskyi district. This incident is the latest in a series of mass drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital and occurred as world leaders convened for an international summit, which is expected to run through Tuesday.

Russia has intensified its summer offensive in several areas of Ukraine, with Ukrainian military updates indicating significant combat activity, The Kyiv Independent says in a report. In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian soldiers reportedly repelled 17 Russian attacks. This increased Russian activity is seen as aligning with an anticipated escalation of fighting during the summer months.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released its June 14, 2025, assessment of the Russian offensive campaign in Ukraine, analyzing military operations and their broader implications, Kyiv Post said in a report. These assessments, based on open-source information like satellite imagery and geolocated footage, detail Russian efforts to gain ground and influence discussions on Western military aid, Ukrainian mobilization, Russian domestic politics, and potential diplomatic initiatives, while also clarifying tactical versus strategic gains and the complexities of battlefield reporting.