Key developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on day 1,205

As of Friday, June 13, the Russia-Ukraine war continues with significant incidents and diplomatic movements. In Russia’s Belgorod region, a Ukrainian drone strike tragically killed a two-year-old boy and injured his grandmother and another adult, according to local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported an attack on the Rezonit electronics factory near Moscow, causing multiple explosions.

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that its forces shot down 260 Ukrainian drones within the last 24 hours, as reported by Interfax. President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to accelerate the development and deployment of dedicated drone troops within Russia’s military, describing them as a separate and essential branch.

On the Ukrainian front, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported steady advances in the Sumy border region, where Ukrainian forces are gradually reclaiming territory from Russian troops aiming to establish a buffer zone with Russia’s Kursk area. Additionally, Ukraine and Russia exchanged groups of seriously ill and wounded prisoners of war, with Zelenskyy highlighting that all Ukrainian soldiers involved require medical care.

In the realm of sanctions, a Group of Seven (G7) summit is scheduled in Canada from June 15-17 to discuss the coordination of sanctions between the European Union and the United States against Russia. Zelenskyy expressed his intention to attend and meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and funding for Kyiv’s reconstruction.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte criticized Russia’s peace negotiation tactics, calling their historical justifications unhelpful. Foreign ministers from six European countries pledged in Rome to intensify pressure on Russia, including new sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy and banking sectors.

In military assistance, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Germany’s support to Ukraine has reached 7 billion euros in 2025, with an additional 1.9 billion euros awaiting parliamentary approval. However, Germany declined Kyiv’s repeated requests for Taurus cruise missiles.

Lastly, the US embassy in Moscow confirmed that Ambassador Lynne Tracy will soon depart after serving during a particularly tense period in US-Russia relations.