Ukraine broght back another group of defenders in another stage of prisoners swap

Ukraine has brought home another group of defenders from Russian captivity as part of the Istanbul agreements, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on June 26.

“We are continuing the exchanges. Today, warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service are returning home. Most had been held since 2022. We will keep working to bring everyone back,” Zelenskyy said.

The Coordination Headquarters noted that this group included many under 25, as well as injured and ill servicemen. Most had been imprisoned for over three years, with many captured during the defense of Mariupol. The youngest released soldier is 24, taken prisoner at age 21 during the siege in April 2022.

North Korea may send more troops to Russia for Ukraine war

North Korea could deploy additional troops to assist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as early as July or August, while continuing to supply Moscow with weapons, Reuters reported, citing South Korean lawmakers and intelligence officials.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Russia may be preparing a “large-scale assault” on Ukraine this summer, MP Lee Seong-kweun said.

In return for providing artillery shells and missiles, North Korea is likely receiving Russian technical support for satellite launches and missile guidance systems, according to the NIS.

The Ukrainian economy is on the brink - 2026 could be a critical year

The Washington Post article describes Ukraine’s dire economic situation amid the ongoing war with Russia. Despite nearly $16 billion in aid from the International Monetary Fund since the conflict began, the economy is on the brink of collapse, heavily reliant on Western support to fund critical sectors like education and social welfare. President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested $40 billion annually to sustain the country, but even this may cover only half of Ukraine’s needs in 2026, with fears that Western aid could wane, exacerbating financial instability.

Hopes for a ceasefire by mid-2025, spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s election, have faded as negotiations have stalled, leaving no immediate end to the war. This has crushed expectations for economic stabilization, as businesses, both Ukrainian and international, focus on cost-cutting rather than expansion, with major investments shifting abroad due to uncertainty. Private investors, once optimistic about post-war reconstruction, are now cautious, further dimming prospects for economic recovery. The article highlights how the prolonged conflict continues to destabilize Ukraine’s financial outlook.

Economic growth is projected to remain below 3% in 2025 and 2026, with limited investment activity, such as a U.S.-Ukraine natural resources deal, offering little immediate relief. Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, like a recent missile strike in Kyiv, further strain the economy. With no ceasefire in sight and reliance on external aid, Ukraine faces significant challenges in maintaining essential services and avoiding deeper economic decline, leaving its economy teetering on the edge of collapse.