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Ukraine
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Ukraine

Eastern European country under Russian full-scale invasion since February 2022.

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck the Baltic Fleet at Kronstadt on 5-6 June 2026, sending over 400 drones roughly 1,000 km into Russia to hit the corvette Boikyi, the first confirmed Ukrainian naval strike in the Baltic Sea.

Last refreshed: 3 August 2026 · Appears in 7 active topics

Key Question

How far into Russia can Ukraine now strike, and does Kronstadt change the war's logic?

Timeline for Ukraine

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Background

Ukraine is a sovereign Eastern European state of approximately 44 million people before the war, bordered by Russia to the north-east and east. It has been under Russian full-scale invasion since 24 February 2022, building on the Donbas conflict that began in 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea, and holds roughly 80% of its internationally recognised territory after four years of war along a front line of around 1,000 km.

Ukraine fights on military, diplomatic and economic fronts simultaneously. Its Unmanned Systems Forces struck the Baltic Fleet at Kronstadt on 5-6 June 2026, sending more than 400 drones roughly 1,000 km into Russia to hit the missile corvette Boikyi and oil infrastructure, the first confirmed Ukrainian naval strike in the Baltic Sea.

Key Issues
Drone diplomacy

Ukraine turns drone defence into export

Three years of drone-defence experience have become diplomatic capital: Ukraine deployed counter-drone specialists to six partner states, including Jordan, since March 2026, alongside ten-year security deals with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

That export drive runs parallel to the war's own escalation: NATO leaders meeting in Ankara on 7-8 July pledged EUR70bn for 2026 and launched a $40bn, five-year Drone Edge counter-drone initiative, recording that European Allies and Canada now finance the vast majority of Ukraine's security assistance.

Common Questions

The front line refuses to move

How many Russian drones hit Ukraine in May 2026?
Russia fired a record 8,150 long-range drones at Ukraine across May 2026. A single 2 June barrage of 656 drones and 73 missiles killed 22 people.Source: Ukrainian Air Force / Zelenskyy
Who is Ukraine's acting defence minister in 2026?
Yevhen Khmara is Ukraine's acting Defence Minister. As of 2 August 2026 he remains only acting, was never formally nominated to the post permanently, and any confirmation likely waits until Parliament's recess ends on 18 August. He is the fifth defence minister since 2023.Source: Kyiv Independent
How many attacks on Ukrainian draft officers were reported in 2025?
Reported attacks on Ukrainian enlistment officers rose from 5 documented cases in 2022 to 341 in 2025, cited after a 2 August 2026 shooting of four Territorial Recruitment Centre staff in Odesa.Source: Kyiv Independent
Is Ukraine part of the EU's gas storage reporting system?
No. Ukraine reports its own storage data through AGSI+ as a non-EU country. On the gas day to 30 July 2026, non-EU AGSI+ reporters (Ukraine, Serbia, Moldova, North Macedonia) held storage 28.95% full against the EU aggregate of 56.39%, reflecting the separate toll the war has taken on Ukraine's own storage and import infrastructure.Source: GIE AGSI+
Are Ukraine peace talks happening in 2026?
Talks are largely frozen. Putin rejected Zelenskyy's June 2026 proposal for direct talks at SPIEF. The E3 (UK, France, Germany) backed a five-point framework on 7 June accepting the current line of contact as a negotiating baseline, not Ukraine's 1991 borders.Source: SPIEF / E3 summit
Did Ukraine strike the Baltic Fleet at Kronstadt?
Yes. On 5-6 June 2026, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces sent over 400 drones roughly 1,000 km to Kronstadt, striking the missile corvette Boikyi and nearby oil and naval infrastructure.Source: Ukrainian military
Did Ukraine sabotage the TurkStream pipeline in April 2026?
No. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry denied any involvement in the 5 April 2026 explosives discovery near the TurkStream pipeline. Serbia's Military Security Agency (VBA) director Djuro Jovanic publicly confirmed that Ukrainians did not organise the sabotage attempt, contradicting Hungary's framing.Source: Serbian VBA / Ukraine MFA
Has Ukraine been striking Russia's oil exports?
Yes. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's two largest Baltic export terminals in late March and early April 2026 cut Russian seaborne crude exports by 43% in a single week, costing Moscow roughly 1 billion dollars. The impact was partially reversed when the Iran war drove oil prices sharply higher.Source: Ukrainian General Staff / ISW
What did NATO pledge to Ukraine at the Ankara summit?
At the 7-8 July 2026 Ankara summit, NATO leaders pledged EUR 70bn in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine across 2026, committed to sustaining at least equivalent levels in 2027, and launched a $40bn, five-year Drone Edge counter-drone initiative.Source: NATO summit declaration
Why did Ukraine start striking tankers in the Sea of Azov?
In early July 2026 Ukraine shifted its long-range drone campaign from static Russian refineries to the tankers moving fuel out through the Sea of Azov. Starboard Maritime Intelligence AIS data recorded a possible 55% drop in vessel crossings between 30 June and 11 July, backing fuel up at ports Russia's domestic market also relies on.Source: Starboard Maritime Intelligence
How much of Ukraine does Russia occupy?
Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War — Ukraine Conflict UpdatesUkraine News — ReutersUkraine — BBC NewsOfficial Website of the President of UkraineUkraine — Wikipedia