Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv threatens to withdraw ceasefire offer as ‘our patience is not endless’

Ukraine’s UN envoy, Andrii Melnyk, warned that Kyiv could reconsider its current ceasefire proposal if there was no meaningful international push to end the war, saying “our patience is not endless”. Melnyk said Ukraine remained open to direct negotiations with Russia but cautioned that its offer of a ceasefire along the current front lines was already a significant concession. “If the security council would further choose a wait-and-see approach, I cannot exclude that Ukraine may recalibrate and modify its offer. Ceasefire along the de facto ‌front line is already a great compromise,” he said. The warning comes as Ukraine projects growing confidence after a series of strikes on Russian oil facilities, supply routes and military infrastructure. Ukrainian attacks have disrupted fuel supplies in Russian-occupied Crimea, where authorities have restricted civilian gasoline sales. Meanwhile, an Egyptian chef was killed when the Turkish dry cargo vessel Victress caught fire during Russian attacks in the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian officials. Eight crew members, including Turkish and Indian citizens, were evacuated. Russian strikes overnight wounded six people in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, while Kyiv briefly issued an air raid alert. In Sumy, a drone strike killed three members of a family. James Reynolds23 June 2026 11:00The bitter historical feud between Ukraine and Poland amid Russia war A deep historical rift is now challenging the strong alliance between Poland and Ukraine, despite their shared war against Russia. The dispute centres on Kyiv's renaming of an army unit after a nationalist force, responsible for Second World War massacres of Poles, which has soured relations and exposed rival historical interpretations. Here's how their rival interpretations of history have soured relations: James Reynolds23 June 2026 10:30South Korea to accept all North Korean POWs in Ukraine if they desire, foreign ministry says South Korea has said it is willing to accept all North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine if they choose to resettle in the South. Seoul stated that it opposes any attempt to send the captured soldiers back to either North Korea or Russia against their wishes. The announcement comes as reports continue to highlight North Korea’s military support for Russia in the war against Ukraine, and ahead of talks between South Korean and Ukrainian officials in Seoul on 30 June. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 10:00Russian attack on Sumy trolleybus leaves driver fighting for life A Russian guided bomb strike in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast destroyed an empty trolleybus on Monday, critically injuring its 57-year-old driver and wounding two other people, The Kyiv Independent reported. According to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov, the driver was alone in the vehicle and was rushed to hospital, where doctors were fighting to save his life. The attack came amid continued Russian strikes on civilian areas in the region, the outlet said. Separately, a Russian drone attack in Sumy Oblast killed three members of a family – a 13-year-old boy, his father and grandmother – and left three other relatives seriously injured. Over the same 24-hour period, Russian attacks across Ukraine reportedly killed at least 10 people and injured 48 others, The Kyiv Independent reported. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 09:30Kyiv says ‘our patience is not endless’ Ukraine’s UN envoy, Andrii Melnyk, said Kyiv is still willing to negotiate directly with Russia and has already made a major concession by offering a full and unconditional ceasefire along the current front lines. However, he warned that “our patience is not endless”. “If the security council would further choose a wait-and-see approach, I cannot exclude that Ukraine may recalibrate and modify its offer. Ceasefire along the de facto ‌front line is already a great compromise.” His comments come as Ukraine feels increasingly confident militarily after striking Russian oil facilities, supply lines, and military infrastructure, putting pressure on Russia, experts say. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 09:00Russia revising school textbooks to mention North Korean troops in war against Ukraine Russia is revising its high school history textbooks to include the role of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine, reflecting Moscow's growing openness about its military partnership with Pyongyang, Kyiv Post reported. The updated textbooks will cover battles involving North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, as well as the use of drones, new weapons, and battlefield tactics seen during the conflict. After initially avoiding public acknowledgment, Russia officially confirmed in 2025 that North Korean forces had fought alongside its troops. Reports suggest that around 14,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to support Russia, with thousands estimated to have been killed. North Korean troops reportedly helped repel a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk and later took part in mine-clearing operations. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 08:30Six injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine as Kyiv warns of major new attack Russian strikes overnight wounded six people across Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, while Kyiv briefly issued an air raid alert. The attacks came a day after a Ukrainian strike on a missile electronics plant in Russia’s Voronezh region, which local authorities said killed five people and injured dozens. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing another major attack even as Ukraine seeks Western support for a peace deal and closer integration with the EU. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 07:47Russian attack on Sumy trolleybus leaves driver fighting for life A Russian guided bomb strike in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast destroyed an empty trolleybus on Monday, critically injuring its 57-year-old driver and wounding two other people, The Kyiv Independent reported. According to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov, the driver was alone in the vehicle and was rushed to hospital, where doctors were fighting to save his life. The attack came amid continued Russian strikes on civilian areas in the region, the outlet said. Separately, a Russian drone attack in Sumy Oblast killed three members of a family – a 13-year-old boy, his father and grandmother – and left three other relatives seriously injured. Over the same 24-hour period, Russian attacks across Ukraine reportedly killed at least 10 people and injured 48 others, The Kyiv Independent reported. Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 07:00Ukrainian attacks prompt Russian-held Crimea to halt civilian gasoline sales Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up attacks on fuel supplies on the Black Sea peninsula. The Russia-appointed Crimean governor Sergei Aksyonov said that overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28. He later wrote on social media that local gas stations would halt all sales to non-state companies and individuals for an undefined period. “Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea,” Aksyonov said. “I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information.” Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 06:30 Maroosha Muzaffar23 June 2026 06:00