Ukraine updates: Russia claims entry into Dnipropetrovsk
Russia claims advance into Ukraine's industrial heartland Ukraine did not immediately respond to Russia's statement Russia repeats accusation that Ukraine is delaying agreed exchange of war dead
This blog covers the main developments in Russia's war in Ukraine on Sunday, June 8, 2025:
Russian officials said on Sunday that they are still waiting for Ukraine to confirm a planned exchange of 6,000 bodies of soldiers who died in action.
Lieutenant General Alexander Zorin said that Russia has brought 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to the exchange site at the border.
They are waiting for confirmation from the Ukrainian side.
It comes a day after Russia and Ukraine accused the other of endangering plans to exchange prisoners of war and soldiers' bodies.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement that there was no fixed date for the return of bodies and that Russia was not sticking to the agreed parameters of the POW swap, accusing Moscow of "dirty games" and "manipulations."
The agency accused Russia of submitting lists of prisoners of war for repatriation that didn't correspond to agreements reached.
The Russian Defense Ministry says its forces have entered Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time since the war began over three years ago.
The move marks a significant escalation, with Moscow claiming progress beyond areas it has previously annexed.
Kyiv has not yet responded, but the region is a key mining and industrial hub and home to millions.
It also said that Russian troops captured the village of Zoria in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Analysts warn that further Russian gains there could deal a serious blow to Ukraine's military and economy.
Russia said its forces have pushed into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region and are continuing their advance there.
Earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine.
We'll explore the significance of this latest advance as the war, now dragging into its fourth year, continues to grind on.
We're also monitoring reports of a possible exchange of prisoners of war and soldiers' bodies. If that happens, we will bring you the details here.
Stay with DW for real-time news, analysis, and insights from our correspondents on the ground as we continue to cover Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Finland to raise defence spending by billions of euros amid Russian threat
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced plans to significantly increase the country's defence budget in response to the persistent threat posed by Russia. Source: Orpo in an interview with Yle, a Finnish public service media company, as reported by European Pravda Details: Orpo stressed that Finland needs to strengthen its defence due to the constant danger coming from Russia. Quote: "I am glad there is near-total agreement among all parties in Finland on this issue." Read also: No promises, just funding: NATO Hague summit to approve new ways to support Ukraine in fight More details: The prime minister explained that the only sustainable way to fund this increase is through accelerating economic growth and boosting employment, though he admitted that doing so will not be easy. Orpo recalled that the current defence spending plan runs until 2032, meaning that future governments will also have to find financing solutions. The Finnish government intends to raise its defence budget to three per cent of GDP by 2029, which implies an annual increase of €1.5-2 billion. The funds will primarily be allocated to the land forces, eastern border protection and air defence systems. Background: The US has recently called on NATO countries to move quickly towards spending five per cent of GDP on defence, citing Russia as the "greatest threat" in the Euro-Atlantic region. The support for Ukraine's Armed Forces is expected to help NATO countries meet this requirement. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine boxer Oleksandr Usyk invites Trump to ‘live in my house' to experience Russian war
Oleksandr Usyk has issued an invitation to Donald Trump, urging the US president to spend a week at his home in Ukraine to gain an insight into the ongoing conflict. Trump had previously asserted he could resolve the war "in 24 hours" upon assuming office. However, more than three years after Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion, a resolution remains elusive. Usyk, a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, conveyed a grim depiction of life in Ukraine, emphasising the necessity for Trump to develop a more profound understanding of the situation. 'I advise American president Donald Trump to go to Ukraine and live in my house for one week, only one week,' Usyk, the WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion, told the BBC. 'Watch what is going on. Every night there are bombs, rockets flying above my house. 'People who don't live in Ukraine, who don't support Ukraine, who haven't watched what's going on, don't understand what's going on.' Usyk, who has won all 23 of his professional contests, is currently in a training camp to prepare for a rematch with IBF champion Daniel Dubois on 19 July at Wembley Stadium. 'I worry about what happens in my country,' 38-year-old Usyk added. 'It's very bad because Ukrainian people have died. It's not just military people – children, women, grandmothers and grandfathers, too.' Russian forces launched two devastating attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Saturday. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Vladimir Putin of "pure terrorism" following the strikes, which allegedly targeted civilians. The initial overnight missile and drone strikes, described by Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov as the "most powerful attack" of the war so far, resulted in at least three deaths and 21 injuries, including a six-week-old baby and a 14-year-old girl. Kharkiv was struck again later on Saturday afternoon with guided aerial bombs, killing at least one person and wounding more than 40 others. Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying: "This is another savage killing. Aerial bombs were dropped on civilians in the city – there is even a children's railway nearby... This makes no military sense. 'This is pure terrorism. This cannot be turned a blind eye to. And this is not some kind of game. Every day, we lose our people only because Russia feels it can act with impunity. Russia must be firmly forced into peace."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
No grounds for evacuation from Sumy at present, say local authorities
Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, has stated that there are currently no grounds for evacuation from the city of Sumy. The situation on the oblast's border with Russia remains tense but is under control. Source: Hryhorov on Telegram Quote: "There are no grounds for evacuation from the city of Sumy at present. The situation on the line of contact remains difficult but is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the security and defence forces. Recently, emotional claims about the security situation in Sumy Oblast have been spreading across the media and Telegram channels. I urge the community to trust only official sources of information, which we will continue to report and provide in a timely manner." Details: Hryhorov reiterated that an evacuation has been announced in Sumy Oblast for 213 settlements across 18 frontline hromadas. Over the past week, around 900 residents of Sumy Oblast have been evacuated and this work is ongoing. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.] He stated that the authorities are neither underestimating nor exaggerating the threats. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
