At the border with Poland, transport processing has been temporarily suspended at the "Uhryniv" checkpoint due to malfunctions in the database. This is happening against the background of an increase in passenger traffic of up to 25% due to the summer tourist season.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law on amendments to the 2025 state budget, which provides for an increase in expenditures by UAH 449 billion, of which UAH 412 billion will go to finance the Security and Defense Forces. Funding has also been allocated to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Pro-Russian Telegram channels are circulating a fake screenshot of an alleged post from the head of the Sumy RMA, Oleg Hryhorov, in which he supposedly calls on residents to evacuate with their property. The Sumy RMA refutes this information, calling it an enemy information dump aimed at destabilizing the region.
During the summer period, Shehyni and Krakovets checkpoints observe a significant increase in passenger traffic, amounting to 25% and expected to rise to 40%. Queues of vehicles have formed at the Shehyni and Krakovets checkpoints for exit from Ukraine due to intense traffic and ongoing repair works.
A Przewalski's horse was blown up by a mine left by Russian troops in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. This tragic incident confirms the long-term consequences of Russian aggression for wildlife. Even after the retreat of Russian troops, a mortal danger remains, threatening not only wild animals but also people.
President Zelenskyy, HUR Chief Budanov, and other officials showed new footage of Ukrainian defenders released from Russian captivity. Minister of Defense Umerov noted that this is part of the agreements reached in Istanbul, and the work on their return continues.
Ukrainian border guards have named the optimal time for crossing the border with Poland, considering repair works at the Shehyni and Medyka checkpoints. It is recommended to depart from Ukraine on weekdays in the morning or late in the evening, and it is better to enter Ukraine on weekends.
Today, June 20, Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, bringing home servicemen who have severe injuries or serious health problems, among them defenders of Mariupol. The oldest released is 60 years old, and all of them will receive necessary medical assistance and rehabilitation.
President Zelenskyy announced the return from Russian captivity of most of the soldiers who had been there for more than two years. Among them are defenders of Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Luhansk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kherson Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast.
Ukraine is preparing a new stage of prisoner exchange with Russia. Recently, a group of severely wounded and seriously ill soldiers, most of whom are defenders of Mariupol, returned from Russian captivity.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and the State Border Guard Service showed a video of the first conversations of Ukrainian defenders after their liberation from Russian captivity. Most of the soldiers had been in captivity for over 3 years.
Ukraine and Russia held another exchange of prisoners, as a result of which Ukrainian servicemen from various branches of the military, as well as defenders with injuries and significant health problems, returned home.
Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service soldiers released from Russian captivity. Most of the military personnel had been in captivity since 2022, fighting on various fronts.
Thanks to the introduction of "eQueue" for buses, queues at checkpoints have decreased. Since the beginning of June, passenger traffic has increased, especially for departures from Ukraine, where 85% are women and children.
The spokesman of the State Border Guard Service Andriy Demchenko denied information about refusals to allow children to leave with a laminated birth certificate. Refusal is possible only if there is a suspicion of forgery of the document.
During the active phase of joint exercises of the Russian Federation with Belarus in September, the risk for Ukraine may increase. A strike group has not yet been recorded, but Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation.
Russians have reduced the use of quad bikes and motorcycles to advance in the Sumy region. The enemy is suffering heavy losses trying to expand the combat zone with small groups.
The Russians do not stop trying to expand the combat zone in Sumy region, but their attacks in small groups are becoming less active due to significant losses. The Armed Forces effectively counter the enemy.
Currently, no strike groups are being formed on the territory of Belarus near the Ukrainian border. However, Ukraine is closely monitoring the joint exercises of the Russian Federation and Belarus.
Military personnel and fighters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system, who had been in captivity since 2022, have returned to Ukraine. This is the fourth exchange of prisoners of war this week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.
Since the beginning of the summer holidays, passenger traffic at the border of Lviv region has increased by 25%. The busiest checkpoints are "Shehyni" and "Krakivets".
The SBU announced the return of the bodies of dead soldiers, for the first time involving special wagons of Ukrzaliznytsia for quick delivery for identification. Repatriation became possible thanks to the cooperation of many departments.
According to Syrskyi, since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian soldiers have destroyed 1,262 tanks and 2,748 armored vehicles. Also, Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters destroyed a mine warehouse in the Kursk region.
A man was detained in the Lviv region, who for the third time tried to illegally cross the border, using online maps. He was discovered with the help of technical means of surveillance and an administrative protocol was drawn up.
Severely wounded and sick Ukrainian defenders, including the defenders of Mariupol, have been released from Russian captivity. They will receive medical assistance, rehabilitation, and payments.
Defenders of various military branches, including those who were considered missing, have returned to Ukraine. The oldest released is 59 years old, and the youngest is 22.
The State Border Guard Service shared a touching moment: a defender released from captivity called his family. Ukraine has returned seriously wounded soldiers, they will be provided with all necessary assistance.
A group of seriously wounded and sick soldiers, including the defenders of Mariupol, have been returned to Ukraine. Some of the released soldiers were considered missing in the war.
In 5 months, the Russians launched over 12,000 strikes on the Sumy region. Klimenko held a meeting on security, evacuation and provision of services in alarm conditions.
A group of soldiers with amputations, vision problems and other serious health problems have been returned to Ukraine. They will be provided with all the necessary medical assistance and rehabilitation.