Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian defence plant as Zelensky tells Putin to ‘take a step towards peace’

Swipe for next article Liveupdated Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian defence plant as Zelensky tells Putin to ‘take a step towards peace’ Zelensky ordered the 40-day offensive after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service A Russian military plant producing artillery ⁠systems ​and ⁠components for missile ⁠launch systems ​in ⁠the Volgograd ‌region was struck by Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky ‌said on Saturday. Explosions were heard while a fire was seen in the city as authorities issued a missile threat alert for Volgograd, Russian independent outlet Astra reported, citing locals. Zelensky claimed that the airstrike caused a fire at ‌the ​premises ‌of the ⁠Titan-Barrikady ⁠plant. The attack comes after Zelensky told Vladimir Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war. In a post on X, Zelensky wrote: “Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war. “Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace.” Zelensky said he made the decision of ordering a 40-day offensive after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service. RECAP: Ukraine strikes Russian military plant after approving 40-day offensive Ukraine has struck a Russian military plant with Flamingo missiles, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after approving a 40-day offensive campaign aimed at influencing Russia to end the ongoing conflict. This decision was made after consultations with the head of the Ukrainian security service, though it is unclear if the offensive has commenced. Ukrainian forces also attacked two Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500km from the frontline, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300km from Ukraine, targeting Russian infrastructure. Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 14:30 What are Flamingo missiles? At the start of the war, Ukraine mostly relied on its old Soviet-era arsenal. Now, the country is at the global forefront in developing unmanned systems like drones. By mid-2025, the country was producing more than half of the weapons it uses on the front line, according to President Zelensky, including most of its long-range weapons. The FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, developed by Ukrainian defence firm Fire Point, entered service in 2025. It has a 3,000km range and can carry a tonne of explosives. It is designed for low-altitude flight to avoid detection and has been used for long-range targets deep inside Russian territory, aimed at disrupting their war economy. Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 14:00 Analysis: Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down Putin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley: Why is Putin asking for Ukraine-Russia peace talks now? Putin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 13:30 EU moves to prolong protection for Ukrainians but not new arrivals eligible for military service The European Union yesterday moved to prolong temporary protection status for millions of people who have fled the war in Ukraine, but not for new arrivals who would be eligible to serve in the armed forces. Ukraine is desperate to boost the size of its fighting force more than four years into its full-scale war with Russia. It's estimated to have suffered around 600,000 military casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in February that 55,000 troops have died and many are missing. More than 4.4 million Ukrainians have been welcomed into the EU since 2022. Most are living in Germany and Poland. They’ve been given temporary residency permits and support, including accommodation or help to get housing, social welfare benefits, medical care and access to schools. More here. EU moves to prolong protection for Ukrainians but not new arrivals eligible for military service The European Union has moved to extend temporary protection status for millions of Ukrainians who fled the war Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 13:00 Rachel Reeves arrives in Ukraine for one-day visit Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 12:30 Russia claims it has taken control of village in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region Russian forces have taken control of the village of Novoskeliuvate in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the state-owned RIA news agency said on Saturday, citing the Defence Ministry. Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 12:00 Zelensky: Ukrainian pressure 'lays the groundwork for a dignified peace' Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia's Volgograd region overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said. The strikes caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant, he said on the Telegram app on Saturday. Ukraine's SBU security service also said its drones attacked the "Vtorovo" oil pumping station in ⁠Russia's Vladimir region for the second ​time ⁠this month. The station is a key logistics hub used to ship petroleum products to Russian domestic consumers and also for export, the SBU said on Telegram. "The ​reach ⁠of Ukraine's long-range sanctions ‌continues to expand," Zelenskiy said, referring to Kyiv's strikes deep inside Russian territory. "It is precisely our pressure, day after day, that lays the groundwork for a dignified peace in the end." Ukraine has intensified mid and long-range drone attacks on the Russian oil facilities and weapon production in ⁠recent months in response to Russia's devastating strikes on the capital Kyiv and other cities. With the war now in its fifth year, fighting rages along more than 1,200 km of the frontline, and Russia launches hundreds of drones in nearly nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Ukraine's energy company, ‌Naftogaz, said its production facilities in the Poltava and ​Kharkiv regions in the northeast had been damaged ‌following Russian missile and ⁠drone attacks over the past two days. Zelenskiy said Russia launched nearly 1,400 drones and 19 missiles during last week's attacks on 15 Ukrainian regions, adding that air defence supplies and drone cooperation with allies remained key priorities for Kyiv. Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 11:30 Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months The Royal Navy has disclosed it maintained a continuous, three-month surveillance operation on Russian warships navigating UK waters, including a frigate that fired a warning shot at a British yacht. Five naval vessels were deployed to track the Admiral Grigorovich, the ship involved in the 16 June incident with the Bright Future yacht south of the Isle of Wight. A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed the frigate's presence in the Channel across several periods: 30 April to 4 May, 8 to 12 May, and 22 to 28 May. More here. Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months Five navy ships have been involved in the monitoring of the Admiral Grigorovich Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 11:00 Zelensky says Russia must get out of Ukraine Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must get out of Ukraine as he outlined Ukraine’s core diplomatic priorities ahead of the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara. Moscow must now take a step toward peace, the president emphasized. He thanked everyone working with Ukraine to push Russia toward diplomacy, as well as those helping defend the country and protect human life. “Ukrainian warriors prove the strength of Ukrainian precision every day. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented. These are our fair responses to Russia for this war — the war that Russia started and that Russia must end," he said. “Russia must take this war out of Ukraine. We do not need war,” the Ukrainian leader added. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 11:00 Crimea declares emergency Authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an “emergency situation” in an effort to ease the fallout from increasing Ukrainian attacks. Yesterday's announcement comes amid a fuel shortage and ongoing power cuts caused by incessant Ukrainian attacks on logistics chain and oil facilities across Crimea. "A decision has been made... to sign decrees declaring a regional-level emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," the Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov said. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 10:30