Ukraine Live Updates Tu-22M3 bomber crashes in Russia +++ New exile party calls for withdrawal from Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its war against Ukraine, in violation of international law. There is no end in sight. Follow the latest developments in our live updates.
Key facts at a glance
- Russia’s invasion began on February 24, 2022. Since then, war has raged across Ukraine —with front lines in the east and south of the country.
- Millions of people are fleeing. According to UN figures, over 6 million Ukrainians are living abroad, and many more are internally displaced.
- The Western world is supporting Ukraine. NATO countries are supplying weapons, aid funds, and air defense systems—but they reject direct involvement in the war.
- You can read about what happened previously here.
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2:02 p.m.
Tu-22M3 bomber crashes in Russia
A Russian bomber has crashed in the Irkutsk region of Russia: Videos show the Tu-22M3 Backfire falling from the sky and exploding in a fireball some distance away.
A second video shows the burning wreckage up close. The Russian news agency TASS confirmed the crash, citing the Ministry of Defense. According to the report, the bomber was unarmed at the time.
This crash will be welcomed in Kyiv: The Kremlin uses the Tu-22M3 to launch Kh-32 cruise missiles, which fly toward their targets at supersonic speeds.
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3:30 p.m.
Rheinmetall plans to build guided missiles with South Koreans
To defend against glide bombs and other enemy missiles, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, will work closely with a South Korean defense company in the future. Rheinmetall announced at the Eurosatory defense trade show in Paris that it plans to establish a joint venture with LIG Defense & Aerospace of Yongin and hold a majority stake in it.
The joint venture is intended to build guided missiles to destroy glide bombs, for example, at a relatively low cost: Such a missile costs a high five-figure euro amount, which is less than larger rockets that sometimes cost more than a million euros and have so far been used to defend against the bombs out of necessity.
Glide bombs are having a devastating effect in the war in Ukraine. Russian aircraft transport them to the border or the front lines, detach them, and then let them glide the final stretch through the air. Since they have no heat signature, they are difficult for air defense systems to detect—anti-aircraft guns are not effective against them.
Now, guided missiles are to be developed and built that can mitigate this threat and at least somewhat balance the cost-benefit ratio.
In 2025, LIG D&A, with approximately 6,000 employees, achieved annual revenue equivalent to 2.5 billion euros, which was about one-third more than the previous year. By comparison, Rheinmetall generated around 10 billion euros in revenue in 2025 with 34,000 employees.
The South Koreans manufacture not only missiles but also sonar systems and naval drones. Their order books are full, and their customers include the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Rheinmetall primarily manufactures ammunition, tanks, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns. In addition, its previously secondary business with drones and satellites is becoming more important.
Now the two companies want to work together through their joint venture to “meet the high demand for multi-layered air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition.” They offer “an exceptionally complementary portfolio of ground-based air defense solutions,” said Rheinmetall manager Oliver Dürr.
We are pooling our strengths and aim to jointly conduct research and development, marketing, sales, and production in Europe, said LIG D&A CEO Ickhyun Shin. “Europe is entering a new era of defense modernization.”
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2:30 p.m.
New Russian Exile Party Calls for Withdrawal from Ukraine
Kremlin opponent Ilya Yashin has founded a political party in Berlin to serve as a unifying force for the fragmented Russian opposition in exile. The organization adopted the name “Peaceful Russia” at its founding party convention, as Yashin reported on the X portal.
The party aims—in contrast to the leadership of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin—to represent “Russia’s true interests.” “By these interests, we mean a withdrawal of troops from Ukraine and a rejection of imperialism, a guarantee of human rights and civil liberties, and a just restructuring of society,” the statement said.
Yashin was elected chairman of Peaceful Russia. Olga Podolskaya, a former deputy from the Tula region, became vice chair. Yashin had been imprisoned in Russia but was released in 2024 during a major prisoner exchange between Russia and the West.
The opposition in exile suffers from a lack of prospects for changing the balance of power in Russia. It is fragmented and divided. At least Leonid Volkov from the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by Alexei Navalny who died in custody, and Marat Gelman from the Russian Anti-War Committee spoke as guests at the party congress.
Another gathering point for the Russian opposition is a dialogue platform launched by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Memorial movement, banned in Russia, also continues its human rights and educational work in exile.
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9:57 a.m.
Zelenskyy Calls on G7 to Respond to Russia’s Attack
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the Group of Seven (G7) to provide a resolute response to Russian attacks in Kyiv and other cities.
More pressure is needed on the aggressor, and more support for Ukraine’s air defense—especially to protect against ballistic missile attacks, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post. He is expected to attend the G7 summit in Évian, France, this evening.
Following a fire at the main church of the world-famous Cave Monastery in Kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zelenskyy called it one of the “greatest Russian crimes against Christian culture.”
![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.]()
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Michael Kappeler/dpa -
8:33 a.m.
Cleric: Icons of the Cave Monastery Saved from Fire
Following the fire on the grounds of the world-famous Cave Monastery in Kyiv, the ancient icons and other sacred objects of Orthodox Christianity are safe, according to church officials. A rapid rescue of liturgical objects and relics was organized, Metropolitan Avraamiy announced on Facebook. They have “not only ecclesiastical, but also national and universal value,” said the head of the monastery, appointed by the state-recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The clergyman thanked all the monks and others involved in the rescue operation for preserving the church treasures. The cleanup from the attack is ongoing, he said. Russia had once again launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight using drones and missiles. The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God also caught fire in the attack. It is the main church of the cave monastery, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Avraamy called on the international community to work to protect Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural heritage amid the ongoing war.
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4 a.m.
Russian attacks on Kyiv – famous cave monastery on fire
As a result of a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the main church of the cave monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has caught fire. “According to operational reports, there is serious damage on the grounds of the cave monastery,” wrote the military governor of the city of three million, Tymur Tkachenko, on Telegram. Images circulating on social media showed flames in the roof area of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God with its gilded domes. It is located on the monastery grounds, which are Ukrainian state property.
![The roof of the Cave Monastery in Kyiv is on fire early Monday morning.]()
The roof of the Cave Monastery in Kyiv is on fire early Monday morning. Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Danylo AntoniukThe centuries-old Kiev Cave Monastery houses the mummified remains of clergy in a complex underground cave system. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1990 and is protected by the UN cultural organization UNESCO. The grounds of the world-famous pilgrimage site on the Dnipro River, whose origins date back to the 11th century, are home to several museums. Despite government pressure, the so-called lower section continues to be used by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which, until the Russian invasion of 2022, considered itself part of the Moscow Patriarchate but has since broken away from Moscow.
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1:10 a.m.
Dead and Injured in Kharkiv
Russia did not only attack the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday night. Heavy shelling was also reported from other Ukrainian regions. In Kharkiv alone, five rescue workers were killed and four others injured as a result of the airstrikes, reported the news portal “The Kyiv Independent,” citing Governor Oleh Synyhubov. At least one person was injured in Dnipro, it was reported. None of this information could be independently verified at first.
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Monday, June 15, 2026, 1 a.m.
Russia fires missiles at Kyiv
The Russian army has attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with missiles. In the city center, nearly two dozen explosions, presumably from air defense systems, were initially heard, as reported by a correspondent for the German Press Agency. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, there were strikes in three districts and at least 23 people were injured. He also reported widespread power outages and fires. About 30 vehicles are said to have gone up in flames. Military Governor Tkachenko spoke of more than 40 strikes in the capital. So far, there have been four fatalities, he wrote early this morning.
