Jun 27, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC

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Ukraine repatriates 160 soldiers, faces new Russian attacks, and updates enemy losses

Ukraine repatriated 160 military personnel in the 76th prisoner exchange, with conflicting reports on their captivity duration. Russia launched missile and drone attacks, and Ukraine updated Russian military losses.

Ukraine has repatriated 160 military personnel in the 76th prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. Among those returned were 115 defenders of Mariupol, with ages ranging from 26 to 66. While President Zelenskyy and Радіо Свобода stated the soldiers had been held since 2022, Українська правда reported their captivity lasted four years. Separately, Russian forces launched seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 189 uncrewed aerial vehicles at the Kyiv and Poltava regions. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 177 targets, including three ballistic missiles and 174 drones, though 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

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Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 920, over 50,000 missing

Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 920, with over 50,000 missing. La Guaira is hardest hit as search efforts and international aid continue following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors.

The provisional death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has dramatically risen to 920, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. Speaking on state television on Friday, June 26, Rodriguez also stated that over 50,000 individuals are now reported missing. This update follows earlier figures, including 235 deaths confirmed by Health Minister Carlos Alvarado on Thursday, and a previous count of 589. The state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, continues to be the most severely affected area by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors, described as the most violent in 126 years. Search and rescue operations are ongoing amidst widespread destruction, particularly in La Guaira, where the Maiquetia - Simon Bolivar International Airport remains closed. International assistance, including aid from the United States, France, and the Pope, continues to mobilize.

Sources: Le Monde

European Parliament committee approves digital euro trilogue negotiations

The European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee has approved trilogue negotiations for the digital euro project, involving the Council, Parliament, and European Commission to define its final contours.

The European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee gave its approval on June 23 for trilogue negotiations concerning the digital euro project. These discussions will involve negotiators from the Council, the Parliament, and the European Commission, aiming to establish the definitive framework for the proposed digital currency. The European Central Bank (ECB) has been developing the digital euro for seven years, with a pilot phase anticipated before its potential issuance, projected for 2029 at the earliest. The ongoing negotiations are crucial for finalizing the project's details.

Sources: Le Monde — International