Jun 12, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC

German Army Chief Christian Freuding has reiterated warnings that Russia could attack NATO countries by 2029 or potentially sooner, prompting Germany to accelerate weapon production and enhance army provisions. Concurrently, the United States has emerged as the world's leading oil exporter, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia, a development reportedly influenced by a US-Iran conflict that has limited Saudi exports since February 2026. In Ukraine, Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets clarified that his initial meeting with Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova prioritized establishing dialogue for future results, rather than immediately addressing her alleged involvement in child deportations from Kherson. Ukrainian law enforcement has also documented six instances this year where Russian special services reportedly recruited underage girls for contract killings of Ukrainian military personnel. Sources: Українська правда, Громадське, Радіо Свобода

Following two consecutive nights of military exchanges, during which the United States launched Tomahawk missiles at Iranian facilities and Iran retaliated against US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, President Donald Trump issued new warnings. Trump announced plans for a "very strong" strike against Iran and threatened to "bomb the shit out of Iran" if a proposed agreement was not reached. He also reiterated intentions to seize Kharg Island and other Iranian oil infrastructure, calling the April ceasefire "the most violated in history." Amidst these developments, Tehran declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, hours after these initial threats, President Trump stated he had canceled further planned strikes on Iran.

Sources: Радіо Свобода, Українська правда, Громадське, Forbes Ukraine

Military operations persisted across Ukraine, with significant activity reported in the Sumy region and occupied Crimea. On June 11, a Russian drone struck a residential building in Sumy's Znoob-Novhorodske community, killing a 67-year-old woman and injuring two children who required hospitalisation. Earlier that day, an attack on civilian infrastructure in Konotop led to widespread disruptions in electricity, water, and gas supplies. These events followed shelling across the Sumy region on June 10, which injured 15 individuals. Separately, a drone was intercepted above Sumy railway station on June 10; its falling debris caused a fire on a passenger train's roof, though all passengers were safely evacuated. Explosions were also reported on June 7 at the Semikolodyazianska oil depot near Kerch and a location in Feodosia in occupied Crimea, with Russia's Ministry of Defense claiming drone interceptions.

Sources: Українська правда, Суспільне Новини, Громадське, Радіо Свобода

The Japanese H3 rocket, a flagship of the nation's space program, achieved a successful launch on Friday, June 12, carrying six small satellites. Japan's aerospace exploration agency, JAXA, broadcast live images of the event. Approximately six minutes after liftoff, JAXA confirmed that "the combustion of the second stage, control, and trajectory are all normal," according to its YouTube live stream. The ultracompact satellites on board were developed by various universities and companies, marking a significant step for Japan's independent space capabilities. This launch follows previous attempts and aims to solidify the H3's reliability as a next-generation launch vehicle. Sources: Le Monde