Russia-Ukraine conflict: Summary of key developments on day 1,200

On Sunday, June 8, intense fighting continued in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces launched attacks on Kharkiv using drones, missiles, and guided bombs, resulting in at least four deaths and over 60 injuries, including a baby. The mayor of Kharkiv described this as the most severe attack since the full-scale war began. In other regions, three people died in the frontline Donetsk area, and another three in the partially occupied Kherson region.

Russian troops gained control over a segment of the Yunakivka-Sudzha highway in Sumy, a strategic route previously used by Ukrainian forces to supply the Russian Kursk region. Overnight, Russia launched over 200 drones and several missiles at Ukraine, with Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepting many of them. Ukraine also reported shooting down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet near Kursk.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the destruction of three Russian Iskander missile systems and damage to military helicopters, highlighting the importance of each setback for Russian forces. A German general noted that recent Ukrainian attacks have affected about 10% of Russia's long-range bombers but had only an indirect impact on overall Russian capabilities.

In Russia, officials reported two people wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike near Moscow, while the Russian defense ministry claimed to have shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.

Regarding prisoner and body exchanges, both sides accused each other of disrupting an agreed transfer of 6,000 fallen soldiers’ bodies. Russian officials said Kyiv halted the exchange at the last moment, while Ukraine denied this and accused Russia of submitting inaccurate prisoner lists.

On the military aid front, Zelenskyy urged the US to urgently respond to Ukraine’s request for Patriot air defense systems following recent attacks. France revealed plans for domestic drone production in Ukraine, and Canada pledged $25.5 million in military support, including armored vehicles.