Jun 26, 2026, 08:30 PM UTC

Ukraine successfully repatriated 160 military personnel in the 76th prisoner exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. All individuals had been held since 2022, with 115 identified as defenders of Mariupol, aged between 26 and 66. The Russian Ministry of Defense also acknowledged the exchange. While [Українська правда]'s headline stated the individuals were held for four years, its article body and other reports confirmed they were held since 2022.

Separately, Russian forces launched seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 189 uncrewed aerial vehicles towards the Kyiv and Poltava regions overnight on June 26. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 177 targets, including three ballistic missiles and 174 drones, but four missiles and eleven drones struck various sites. Ukraine's General Staff updated its assessment of Russian military personnel losses to 1,398,370 since the full-scale invasion, with 1,310 reported in the preceding 24 hours.

Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused its evacuation of over 11,000 sailors in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was attacked, with IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez citing the need for "necessary safety guarantees." US President Donald Trump described the incident as a "foolish violation" of Iran's truce with Washington. Meanwhile, global oil prices have fallen to levels not seen since before the recent conflict involving Iran, with Brent crude briefly dropping below $72.48 a barrel as shipping traffic gradually resumes. In a separate development, Israel and Lebanon have signed a framework agreement in Washington following US-brokered talks.

Sources: BBC News

A severe heatwave has gripped Europe, leading to record-breaking temperatures and a rising death toll. Germany provisionally recorded its highest-ever temperature at 41.3C in Saarbrücken, while Belgium and the Netherlands also experienced new June temperature records. The intense heat has contributed to an increasing number of fatalities in Spain and France. Concerns over public health risks have prompted authorities to cancel various public events, including concerts, across the affected regions. Sources: BBC News – World