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A drone with explosives crashed at Leipzig/Halle airport, a vital NATO hub, raising fears of Russian sabotage. Intelligence suggests Moscow orchestrated the incident to test NATO defenses, amid a broader drone campaign across Europe. Military experts warn European air defenses are outdated, and NATO's slow response highlights vulnerability.
Al Jazeera gained rare access to a Ukrainian long-range drone unit conducting strikes deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials call these attacks 'long-range punishment', targeting economic and psychological damage. The campaign has expanded beyond oil and gas to include dual-use goods sellers like Wildberries.
A drone exploded near Bulgaria's Balkan Stream pipeline, and two more were detected at a German military base, adding to recent incidents across Europe. The sightings have stoked fears that Russia's war in Ukraine could spill over into NATO territory, though Germany has yet to assign blame.
Russia and Ukraine continued overnight aerial attacks against each other, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Ukraine targeted multiple Russian oil refineries, while Russia struck the Dnipropetrovsk region and a cargo ship near Odesa.
Ukraine announced drone strikes on two Russian oil refineries, killing at least two people according to Russian officials. President Zelenskyy said the attacks aim to weaken Russia's war capabilities. The strikes are part of a broader campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
A 44-year-old railway worker was killed in Ukraine's Sumy region and two civilians died in Russia's Bryansk region as cross-border attacks continue. Ukrainian drone strikes also hit facilities deep inside Russia, including Tatarstan and Togliatti, as part of Kyiv's strategy to disrupt Russian logistics and infrastructure.
Seoul’s central district court sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for sending military drones into North Korea, a move prosecutors described as a pretext for declaring martial law in late 2024. Yoon denies the charges and plans to appeal. The case has further strained already tense inter-Korean relations.
A spate of drone incursions believed to be from Ukraine has heightened tensions and fears of direct military confrontation between the Baltic states and Russia. In mid-May, two drone intrusions within 48 hours prompted NATO and Lithuanian alerts, while Russia alleged Ukraine planned to launch drones from Latvia — a claim dismissed by Riga. The incidents have spurred political turmoil and deepened questions about how close the region is to direct conflict.
Latvia's parliament on June 5 approved a new coalition government led by centrist Andris Kulbergs as prime minister, replacing a previous government that collapsed over disagreements on how to handle suspected Ukrainian stray drones. The new four-party coalition is expected to hold a solid parliamentary majority and pursue a pro-EU, pro-NATO course, with an emphasis on strengthening the military and borders.
