How far will Russian President Vladimir Putin go to win his war in Ukraine?

The question looms larger and more worrying as the invasion slows and his dreams of conquest are put on hold. His mounting frustration has prompted fears that Putin is willing to use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to prevail.

While Putin has issued nuclear threats, the real danger appears to be a readiness to use chemical or biological weapons. Russian officials have launched a disinformation campaign that seems to lay the groundwork for the deployment of bioweapons.

CNN —

Russia launched its largest aerial assault of its three-year war on Ukraine overnight, targeting the capital and other regions with missiles and drones for a second night in a row, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to rebuke the US for its “silence.”

At least 12 people were killed in the attacks across Ukraine, including children, officials said. Dozens more people were injured.

Among those killed were three children from the same family in the Zhytomyr region – west of Kyiv – according to Ukraine’s internal affairs minister Ihor Klymenko. He said their parents were hospitalized where the mother remains in a serious condition.

The children’s school expressed its condolences on Facebook. “We are in pain. The whole school family… We bow our heads in sorrow,” it said.

Russia has been intensifying its aerial bombardment of Ukraine as international pressure mounts on Putin to accept a ceasefire proposal.

“Each such terrorist attack by Russia is a sufficient reason for new sanctions against Russia. Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram Sunday morning.

“The world may go on vacation, but the war continues, despite weekends and weekdays. This cannot be ignored. America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin,” he continued.

Later on Sunday, US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Putin, saying, “We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities.”

Speaking to reporters on his way back to Washington, D.C., Trump said: “He’s killing a lot of people, and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin. I’ve known him a long time. Always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

But Trump also turned his criticism toward Zelensky, saying in a post on Truth Social that the Ukrainian president was “doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.”

Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, called Russia’s overnight attacks a “clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents.”

The assault overnight into Sunday came despite the largest prisoner swap of the war taking place, a rare moment of cooperation in a brutal conflict that shows little sign of ending.

Ukraine’s Air Force said 367 aerial attack weapons – 69 missiles and 298 drones – were launched across 22 locations in Ukraine overnight into Sunday. It added 47 of those missiles and 266 drones were intercepted.

Russia’s previous record-breaking aerial attack on Ukraine was just last weekend when Russia launched 273 drones in one night.

Firefighters try to put out a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv on Sunday. Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP

A municipal worker cleans an apartment building in Kyiv that was damaged in a Russian drone strike on Sunday. Thomas Peter/Reuters

“A difficult Sunday morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night. The most massive Russian air attack in many weeks lasted all night,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on social media platform X.

In the capital Kyiv, air raid sirens blared for hours and residents were warned to stay in shelters in the early hours of Sunday as officials said the city faced a second night in a row of drone and missiles attacks. Civilian buildings in multiple districts were damaged as Russia mounted an attack using drones and rockets, authorities said.

The overnight assault came a day after another wave of Russian attacks, which killed at least 13 people.

Prisoner swap

Over 600 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners were exchanged Sunday, the final phase of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange the two sides had agreed to – the only significant outcome of the meeting between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul last week.

Russia’s defense ministry said 303 Russian servicemen were exchanged for the same number of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Videos posted to social media by Zelensky and other officials show the hundreds of released Ukrainian men with shaved heads calling their loved ones on the phone whilst draped in Ukrainian flags. One video posted by the country’s ombudsman shows three men enjoying chocolate.

Over 600 prisoners were released on Saturday and almost 800 people were released on Friday during the initial phases of the swap.

A Ukrainian serviceman hugs his wife after returning from captivity during a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine Sunday, May 25, 2025 Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Zelensky said Sunday he was “grateful to the team that worked around the clock to successfully implement this exchange.”

The Istanbul meeting was initially proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to a ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum given to Moscow by Kyiv’s European allies – which many saw as a clear attempt by the Kremlin leader to distract and delay.

Kyiv had hoped those talks would alleviate its casualties, but since then Russia has stepped up its bombardment.

“Without really strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Zelensky said on Sunday, calling on the US and Europe to impose fresh sanctions.

US President Donald Trump has said he would not join in any new sanctions on Russia because he thought “there’s a chance” of progress, but remarked that could change. He has also pointed to potential economic incentives if the war concludes, but the latest Russian assault will renew the sense among Kyiv and its allies that trade with the US is not high on the list of Putin’s priorities.

Meanwhile, Russia said that it also was attacked by Ukrainian drones on Sunday.

Russia’s defense ministry said it intercepted or destroyed around 100 attack drones. Most of those destroyed were over Russia’s central and southern regions, with 13 over the Moscow and Tver regions, the ministry said.

The defense ministry a day earlier claimed it had destroyed 94 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian territory, mostly over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions. Some UAVs were also shot down over the Kursk, Lipetsk, Voronezh and Tula regions too, it added.

The governor of the Tula region, Dmitry Miliaev, said Saturday three people were injured, including two who were hospitalized.

This story has been updated.

From 6 Jun 2025 13.02 BST Russian attack on Ukraine overnight – what we know so far Daniel Boffey Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at Kyiv overnight, killing four people, after Vladimir Putin had vowed to respond to Operation Spiderweb. 1:11 Russia launches barrage on Kyiv after vowing revenge for Ukrainian attack on bomber fleet – video Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday that Russia had launched more than 400 drones and more than 40 missiles at the country, as he urged allies to build pressure on the Kremlin to end its war. “If someone does not put pressure and gives the war more time to take lives, they are complicit and responsible. We need to act decisively,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on social media. Missiles and drones hammered the Ukrainian capital leading fires to rage through residential buildings and forcing the local metro system to close after a train was hit. It was part of a nationwide assault during which a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles and dozens of drones were launched. Despite the efforts of Ukraine’s air defences, the authorities in Kyiv reported that three emergency workers had been killed and 20 people wounded, of whom 16 had been hospitalised. “Search and rescue operations are ongoing at several locations,” Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said on Telegram. Russia’s defence ministry said that its forces had carried out the overnight attacks in response to what it called Ukrainian “terrorist acts” against Russia. Russia had previously vowed to take revenge on Ukraine after Monday’s audacious drone attack, known as Operation Spiderweb, on its bomber fleet. Share

6 Jun 2025 15.03 BST Jakub Krupa … and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today. Responding to overnight attacks by Russia, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “Russia must be held accountable for this,” as he urged the US and Europe to put more pressure on Moscow. (10:01)

Three people were killed and 49 people were wounded, he said, but that number may still go up as “people are reaching out for help”. Earlier today, Kyiv authorities reported four dead (10:01), indicating a level of confusion about the death toll.

The Kremlin has just said the overnight attacks on Ukraine , as “all military actions,” were conducted “ in response to actions of terrorist regime in Kyiv ,” Reuters reported (12:04).

Meanwhile, back in Germany from his visit to Washington DC, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “in Washington there seems to not be a clear understanding of the extent of Russian armament” (11:06). Separately, the Dutch government has confirmed plans for a snap parliamentary election on 27 October after the collapse of the ruling coalition (12:38). And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today. If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com. I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa. Share

6 Jun 2025 13.53 BST Europe can sustain Ukraine’s fight with Russia even without US, German general says Europe is capable of sustaining Ukraine’s resistance against Russia, even if the United States were to decide to completely halt its military support to Kyiv, the senior military official in charge of coordinating Germany’s arms supplies told Reuters. View image in fullscreen Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky (R) welcomes Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz before a gathering of European leaders in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv last month. Photograph: Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images Major General Christian Freuding said Nato’s European members plus Canada had already exceeded the estimated $20 billion worth of US military aid provided last year to Kyiv. They accounted for around 60% of the total costs borne by the Western allies, he said. “The war against Ukraine is raging on our continent, it is also being waged against the European security order. If the political will is there, then the means will also be there to largely compensate for the American support,” Freuding said in an interview. Share

6 Jun 2025 13.20 BST ‘He’s a bulldog’: the man behind the success of Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb And if you want to read the story behind Ukraine’s attack on Sunday and the profile of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Malyuk who was the man behind the success of this operation, Guardian’s Daniel Boffey has this long read for you. View image in fullscreen A fisherman passes by a mural in Kyiv, Ukraine, depicting the head of Ukraine’s Security Service Vasyl Malyuk who led a Spiderweb special operation that hit four Russian airbases damaging or destroying dozens strategic aircraft. Photograph: Efrem Lukatsky/AP Here is a taster: “I am confident that the SBU operations led by Vasyl Malyuk will be the subject of books and films,” said one SBU officer on condition of anonymity. “Because compared to what the security service is doing now, Hollywood is nervously smoking on the sidelines.” ‘He’s a bulldog’: the man behind the success of Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb Read more Share

6 Jun 2025 13.02 BST Russian attack on Ukraine overnight – what we know so far Daniel Boffey Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at Kyiv overnight, killing four people, after Vladimir Putin had vowed to respond to Operation Spiderweb. 1:11 Russia launches barrage on Kyiv after vowing revenge for Ukrainian attack on bomber fleet – video Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday that Russia had launched more than 400 drones and more than 40 missiles at the country, as he urged allies to build pressure on the Kremlin to end its war. “If someone does not put pressure and gives the war more time to take lives, they are complicit and responsible. We need to act decisively,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on social media. Missiles and drones hammered the Ukrainian capital leading fires to rage through residential buildings and forcing the local metro system to close after a train was hit. It was part of a nationwide assault during which a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles and dozens of drones were launched. Despite the efforts of Ukraine’s air defences, the authorities in Kyiv reported that three emergency workers had been killed and 20 people wounded, of whom 16 had been hospitalised. “Search and rescue operations are ongoing at several locations,” Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said on Telegram. Russia’s defence ministry said that its forces had carried out the overnight attacks in response to what it called Ukrainian “terrorist acts” against Russia. Russia had previously vowed to take revenge on Ukraine after Monday’s audacious drone attack, known as Operation Spiderweb, on its bomber fleet. Share

6 Jun 2025 12.12 BST And here is the official confirmation from the Dutch interior minister Judith Uitermark. We have officially set the election date: the Second Chamber elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025. In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly! Share

6 Jun 2025 11.38 BST Netherlands to hold snap election in October Meanwhile, we are getting an important update from the Netherlands after the recent collapse of the government there. Collapse of Dutch government leaves uncertainty on streets of Amsterdam Read more The country will hold a snap general election on 29 October, Dutch news agency ANP reported, citing the country’s caretaker government. Share Updated at 11.38 BST

6 Jun 2025 11.16 BST US magazine The Atlantic reported that US president Donald Trump privately expressed his frustration with Ukraine over its major attack on Russian targets over the weekend. The magazine said Trump worried it “could escalate the conflict, according to three administration officials and an outside adviser to the White House.” It said: “Trump privately echoed a right-wing talking point this week by criticizing Zelensky for supposedly showboating after the drone attacks; according to the adviser, Trump was impressed with the audacity of the strikes but believes that Zelensky’s focus should have been on Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul.” Share Updated at 11.31 BST

6 Jun 2025 11.04 BST All military actions are in response to Kyiv’s actions, Russia says The Kremlin has just said the overnight attacks on Ukraine, as “all military actions,” were conducted “in response to actions of terrorist regime in Kyiv,” Reuters reported. Picking up on Trump’s comments comparing the war between Russia and Ukraine to “two young children fighting like crazy in a park”, Kremlin spokepserosn Dmitry Petrov added that for Russia “this is existential.” “For us it is an existential issue, an issue on our national interest, safety, on our future and the future of our children, of our country,” he said, as reported by AFP. Share Updated at 11.05 BST

6 Jun 2025 10.25 BST EU negotiating new agri deal with Ukraine after wartime tariffs suspensions expired Separately, in Brussels, the EU’s agriculture commissioner offered some commentary on the bloc’s trading arrangements with Ukraine after the previous tariff suspensions expired on Thursday. The EU and Ukraine reverted to the prewar regime of trade quotas on Friday, while the two sides negotiate a new longer-term deal. Christophe Hansen told Reuters that a new deal will set import quotas on agricultural goods from Ukraine somewhere “in between” current levels and the temporary exemptions granted after Russia’s 2022 invasion. The EU temporarily waived duties and quotas on agricultural products in June 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion to help Ukraine compensate for the higher costs of its exports, after Russia threatened its traditional Black Sea shipping lanes. But the move sparked some controversy in some EU countries, including Poland. Ukraine’s farm minister Vitaliy Koval told Reuters this week that Kyiv was pushing for an agreement on higher quotas than it had before the war, Reuters reported. Share

6 Jun 2025 10.06 BST Merz reveals more on his Trump talks, warns of ‘no clear understanding’ of Russian armament Meanwhile, German chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed more details about his meeting with US president Donald Trump yesterday. View image in fullscreen US President Donald Trump (L) greets Friedrich Merz, the newly inaugurated German chancellor, before their meeting at the White House. Photograph: China News Service/Getty Images Setting the scene in a speech during a family entrepreneurs’ events, he said that “whether we like it or not, we will remain dependent on the United States, on America, for a long time to come.” He separately said that the Trump administration was “open for discussions” and “to hear other opinions,” Reuters reported, as he insisted: “you must speak with Trump, not about him.” On Ukraine, he said that “in Washington there seems to not be a clear understanding of the extent of Russian armament.” But more broadly on Nato, he felt assured that “Trump was clear about not taking the US out of Nato.” Share

6 Jun 2025 09.32 BST Ukraine claims two successful night-time strikes on Russian airfields Back to Ukraine, the country’s army claimed “successful” night-time strikes on two Russian airfields – one in the south of the country and the other in a region near Moscow – that it said were used by Russian bomber planes to attack Ukraine, AFP reported. “On the night of 6 June, a successful strike was launched at Engels airfield in Saratov region, a place of concentration of enemy aircraft,” Ukraine’s army said, adding: “The airfield of Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, where aerial refuelling and escort fighters are based and used to support missile strikes on Ukrainian territory, was also hit.” Share

A Four Corners exposé has revealed that a Chinese billionaire trying to gain Australian citizenship paid tens of thousands of dollars to a lobbyist who secured a private meeting with the then-immigration minister Peter Dutton.

Huang Xiangmo’s citizenship request was ultimately denied, after ASIO objected to his links to the Chinese Communist Party.

However, the joint investigation by Four Corners, the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Mr Dutton approved a private, expedited citizenship ceremony for Mr Huang’s wife and two children.