Russian official calls for total destruction of 'everything Ukrainian'

Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian official overseeing the occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, stated on June 27 that it's "time to completely destroy everything Ukrainian down to the root," ensuring "no trace is left."

Rogozin's remarks are part of a pattern of genocidal rhetoric from Russian officials and propagandists, which has escalated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. This aggression has resulted in war crimes and widespread violence against Ukrainian civilians, alongside efforts to distort history, erase Ukrainian culture, and forcibly remove Ukrainian children.

Rogozin, currently serving as the "senator" of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, also emphasized the need to eliminate Ukrainian literature and history. Previously, he held positions as CEO of Roscosmos, Russia's state-run space corporation, as well as deputy prime minister and ambassador to NATO.

Rogozin asserted that there can be "no truce" with Ukrainians, claiming that any such agreement would mean "certain death for our children and grandchildren."

Recently, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed three resolutions condemning Russia's war against Ukraine. One of these resolutions recognized Russia's intent to destroy Ukraine's cultural heritage and identity as genocidal.

The resolutions also condemned Russia's systematic policy of "Russification" in occupied Ukrainian territories, which began with its initial invasion in 2014, including efforts to suppress Ukrainian language and history.

According to Ukraine's Culture Ministry, Russia's war has damaged 1,987 cultural sites as of late April.

Several high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, Valery Gerasimov, face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes committed against Ukraine.

Ukraine downed 28 of 29 Russian aerial targets overnight

Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted all 23 Shahed-type attack drones and five of the six missiles launched by Russia overnight on June 27, according to reports from the Air Force.

The attacks originated from multiple locations including Russia's Tambov and Kursk oblasts, the Black Sea, and occupied Crimea. In addition to the drones, Russia fired one Kh-47 Kinzhal ballistic missile, four cruise missiles, and one guided Kh-59 missile, as confirmed by the Air Force.

Throughout the night, the Air Force issued nationwide missile threat warnings. There were reports of explosions in Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi Oblast around 3:30 a.m. local time, though no damage or casualties were reported.

Drone attacks have become a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions, with mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force actively countering these aerial assaults.

In recent months, Russian strikes have increasingly targeted critical Ukrainian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities.

Additionally, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses intercepted seven Ukrainian-launched drones over Moscow, Tver, and Belgorod oblasts overnight on June 27. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify this assertion.

Russian forces strike residential area in Kharkiv, damaging student dorms

Russian forces conducted an attack on Kharkiv on the afternoon of June 27, damaging residential buildings and student dormitories at a local higher education institution, according to reports from Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, shared on Telegram.

Initially, Terekhov reported that the Russians targeted the building of the educational institution, but later corrected this to state that residential houses were hit, with some being destroyed.

Terekhov also noted that dormitories of the higher education institution were affected by the attack. Currently, there is no information available regarding casualties.

Syniehubov added that the blast damaged windows in two academic buildings of the higher education institution.