For today, links to 14 reports: from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK, GAZA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM
– – –
Ukraine’s SBU attacks Crimean bridge with underwater bomb, by Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post Ukraine’s Security Service said today it carried out a new special operation that damaged the Crimean Bridge for the third time — this time using underwater explosives — in a mission that took months to plan. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.
– – –
Russian rockets kill 3 in a Ukrainian city as Kyiv claims it damaged a key bridge deep in Russia, by Illia Novikov | AP KYIV — A Russian attack targeted the Ukrainian city of Sumy today, killing at least three people and leaving many injured, officials said. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault, saying it underscored that Moscow has no intentions of halting the three-year war. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Kremlin says Ukraine peace efforts are complex, no quick decisions should be expected, by Dmitry Antonov | Reuters MOSCOW — The Kremlin said today that work on trying to reach a settlement to end the war in Ukraine was extraordinarily complex and that it would be wrong to expect any imminent decisions but that it was waiting for Ukrainian reaction to its proposals presented at Monday’s talks in Istanbul. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Tass.
– – –
Russia-Ukraine talks end without ceasefire, but countries agree to exchange prisoners. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Steve Inskeep | NPR A second round of ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia ended quickly on Monday and with no ceasefire, though the two countries agreed to exchange more prisoners of war. Some updates. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 Ukraine’s neutrality, recognition of Donbass, Novorossiya: key ideas of Russian memorandum. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian memorandum on a future settlement, handed over to the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul, implies Ukraine’s neutrality and a ban on any military activity by third countries on its territory. Russia’s proposals set out in the document envisage elections in Ukraine, followed by the signing of a peace treaty. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 Ukraine and Russia agree to swap dead and wounded troops but report no progress toward ending war, by Mehmet Guzel | AP ISTANBUL — Representatives of Russia and Ukraine met Monday for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks and agreed to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops but made no progress toward ending the 3-year-old war, officials said — this a day after . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 Russia and Ukraine hold talks after Ukrainian attacks on Russian bomber fleet. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR Officials from Russia and Ukraine met for a second round of peace negotiations in Istanbul. The discussions come after a surprise Ukrainian drone attack on remote Russian air bases Sunday. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from AP.
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian warplanes was a serious blow to the Kremlin’s strategic arsenal. From AP. Sunday’s surprise attack targeting several Russian air bases hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers was unprecedented in its scope and sophistication. Ukraine said over 40 bombers were damaged or destroyed, but Moscow said only . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 Ukrainian strikes cut power to Russian-held areas, officials say. From Reuters. Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks triggered power cuts over swathes of Russian-controlled territory in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in the south of Ukraine, Russia-installed officials said early on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM JUNE 2 How Ukraine pulled off its drone attack on valuable Russian warplanes. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR Ukraine has carried many highly creative drone attacks against Russia. Now, they’ve destroyed some of Russia’s most valuable warplanes, parked at military bases deep inside Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.
.