WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – June 20th – 26th 2026

SUDAN

EL-OBEID AT RISK OF MASS ATROCITIES

On June 20, 2026, the UN Security Council expressed deep concern over “the imminent risk of mass atrocities” in El-Obeid, a major city in Sudan’s Kordofan region besieged by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and called on the RSF to “immediately cease their assault.” The Council noted “significant military reinforcements” massing around the city. UN Special Envoy Pekka Haavisto had called RSF General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo urging him not to attack El-Obeid and to “defuse the situation urgently.” Secretary-General António Guterres warned against a repeat of the atrocities committed during the RSF’s takeover of El-Fasher in October 2025, after which a UN inquiry found acts of “genocide.”

UN RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ATTACKS ON PEACEKEEPERS

On June 23, 2026, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution co-sponsored by Pakistan and Denmark to improve accountability for attacks against UN peacekeepers, calling on the Secretary-General to establish a clear account of each future attack, appoint a senior official to coordinate investigations, and submit annual reports to the Council. The resolution, supported by over 150 countries, follows 7 UNIFIL peacekeepers killed since early March and 6 Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a Sudan drone attack in December. Since 1948, 1,150 peacekeepers have been killed in operation.

38 NGOS DEMAND URGENT UN ACTION TO PREVENT ATROCITIES, PACE TO PREVENT ESCALATION “RAPIDLY NARROWING”

On June 26, 2026, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo warned the Security Council that “the room to prevent a broader escalation in El-Obeid is rapidly narrowing,” as drone attacks by both sides had sharply increased over the previous 2 weeks while RSF forces reinforced their positions. UNICEF Deputy Director Hannan Sulieman warned that some 500,000 civilians, including children, faced immediate danger. 38 NGOs including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called on the UN Human Rights Council to “urgently examine the situation in and around El-Obeid” and take measures to prevent atrocities. In a letter to member states, the NGOs demanded the Council denounce “foreign actors supporting the belligerents, including the United Arab Emirates” and called for an emergency or special session, as well as an urgent investigation by the UN’s Sudan mission.

US SANCTIONS NETWORKS ARMING BOTH SIDES

On June 26, 2026, the United States blacklisted several individuals and organizations accused of supplying “arms, explosives and foreign fighters” to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The State and Treasury Departments stated the targeted networks had “enabled both sides to expand the scale and intensity of the conflict.” Among those sanctioned were 2 companies linked to Sudan’s military-industrial complex, one of which had purchased uniforms and shoes for Sudanese intelligence agents from a UAE company. The US have previously described the Sudan conflict as a “proxy war” involving the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

SOUTH SUDAN

FIRST-EVER ELECTIONS ON DECEMBER

On June 22, 2026, South Sudan’s National Electoral Commission confirmed the country’s first elections would be held on December 22, 2026. Commission President Abednego Akok Kacuol cited “numerous challenges,” including a severe funding gap: only $21 million of the required $250 million has been disbursed. Security remains a concern, with ongoing clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of former Vice President Riek Machar, who was removed from office, charged with “crimes against humanity” and placed under house arrest in 2025.

ETHIOPIA

ABIY AHMED’S PARTY WINS SWEEPING LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY

On June 21, 2026, Ethiopia’s electoral commission headed by Melatwork Hailu, announced that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party had won 438 out of 486 attributed seats in the House of People’s Representatives. 38 seats for the Tigray regional state remained vacant as elections could not be held there for security reasons, nor in 8 constituencies in Amhara. Elections are to be rerun in 15 constituencies across 3 other regional states.

NIGER

NIGER FORMALLY NOTIFIES ICC OF WITHDRAWAL

On June 23, 2026, the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed it had received on June 18 a withdrawal notification from Niger, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. The withdrawal takes effect on June 18, 2027 and Niger must continue honoring its obligations until then. In September 2025, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso had jointly announced their withdrawal, calling the ICC “an instrument of neo-colonial repression.” The ICC stated it “regrets any decision to withdraw from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes.”

NIGERIA

11 FARMERS MASSACRED IN ISWAP ATTACKS IN NORTHEAST

On June 21, 2026, suspected ISWAP jihadists killed 11 farmers in 2 separate attacks in northeastern Nigeria. In the first, 7 farmers were gathered and had their throats cut in the village of Kuwawu near Monguno, Borno State, confirmed by militia member Babakura Kolo and corroborated by Ibrahim Liman. In the second, 4 farmers were killed while working in their fields near Kross Kauwa in the Lake Chad area, according to militia member Musa Ari. A video showed the bodies.

21 FARMERS KILLED IN NIGHTTIME ATTACK IN PLATEAU STATE

On June 22, 2026, at least 21 farmers were killed and several wounded in an attack on the village of Kawel, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, central Nigeria. Bokkos council president Amalau Samuel Amalau declared: “I can confirm that 21 people were shot.” Residents stated assailants entered the village firing indiscriminately, killing 17 on the spot. 21 people were buried in the locality. No group claimed responsibility. The Bokkos region has endured decades of violence between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers.

KENYA

KENYAN WORKERS LURED TO RUSSIA, FORCED INTO COMBAT

On June 22, 2026, an investigation revealed that hundreds of Kenyans who died this year in eastern europe, had been recruited under a government-to-government program and ended up fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. Labor Minister Alfred Mutua, who posted on X with departing recruits promising factory jobs at 115,000 shillings/month, is accused of political and personal responsibility. Kenyan intelligence estimates over 1,000 victims, against the official figure of 291. Ojiro Odhiambo of NGO Vocal Africa, contacted by over 500 families, reported over 350 confirmed deaths. Festus Omwamba, head of recruitment agency Global Face Human Resources, was charged with human trafficking and released on bail on March 23.

SECURITY CRACKDOWN DETERS PROTESTS IN NAIROBI

On June 25, 2026, Nairobi deployed a massive security presence to deter demonstrations marking the 2nd anniversary of the crackdown on the 2024 Gen Z protests, during which police killed at least 62 people and at least 65 more died during 2025 anniversary protests, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. A small group including Jacinta Anyango, whose 12-year-old son Kennedy was killed in 2024, marched to parliament and laid flowers on barbed wire. Several people were arrested.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

DRC’S MINE AT THE CENTER OF US-CHINA RIVALRY

On June 26, 2026, a report highlighted the DRC’s major role in the global race for critical minerals, centered on the Kamoa Copper S.A. mine near Kolwezi, which has a copper grade of 2.8%, 4 times the world average. With a joint venture between Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines, China’s Zijin Mining and the Congolese State (20%), it aims for 400,000 tonnes of copper by 2027. Kamoa Director Annebel Oosthuizen stated the world will need to “nearly triple” copper production in the coming years. DRC Minister of Economy Daniel Mukoko confirmed the mining sector “drives the entire Congolese economy.” A US-DRC strategic partnership signed in December and a memorandum of understanding between Glencore and US consortium Orion Critical Mineral Consortium for a potential 40% stake in Glencore’s DRC assets reflect Washington’s push to reduce Chinese dominance, estimated at 70% of mining activity.

DRC FILES GENOCIDE CASE AGAINST RWANDA

On June 26, 2026, the DRC filed a request with the International Court of Justice in The Hague against Rwanda for alleged atrocities committed in eastern DRC from 1996 to 2026. The DRC invoked the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, citing a “genocidal campaign” targeting primarily Hutus as well as Nyindus, Bembes, Legas, Nandes, Hundes and Bashis ethnic communities. The DRC accused Rwanda of acting through its own forces and armed groups under its control, including the M23.

LEBANON

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL AT LEAST 15 IN THE SOUTH

On June 20, 2026, new Israeli strikes killed approximately 15 people in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire. About 20 strikes were recorded in eastern and southern Lebanon. Civil Defense reported 16 killed in the Nabatieh region. Israel stated it was targeting Hezbollah positions in response to projectiles fired overnight. Hezbollah Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz again.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST KILLED BY ISRAELI ATTACK

On June 20, 2026, tributes poured in for Mona Khalil, a Lebanese environmental activist, who succumbed to injuries from an Israeli strike on her home in the coastal village of Al-Mansouri on June 4. She had refused to evacuate despite repeated warnings and had dedicated decades to protecting sea turtles on Lebanon’s southern coast, founding the “Al-Mansouri Turtle Beach” refuge for endangered loggerhead and green turtles. Julien Jreissati of Greenpeace called her death “a loss for the environmental movement in Lebanon and the region.”

HEZBOLLAH REJECTS ISRAELI “SECURITY ZONE”, ISRAEL VOWS TO STAY

On June 21, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared troops had “total freedom of action” to “eliminate threats” in Lebanon and would not withdraw from the 10-kilometer zone it occupies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel would remain “as long as necessary”.

SOUTH LEBANON RESIDENTS RETURN TO ASSESS DEVASTATION

On June 21, 2026, some residents of southern Lebanon returned to inspect properties during a lull in fighting. In Nabatieh, Mayor Abbas Badreddine stated the damage sustained in 48 hours equalled 50% of that from 110 days of war. The Bank of Lebanon denounced a “direct and deliberate” Israeli strike on its Nabatieh branch. Israeli operations have killed 4,057 people since March 2 in Lebanon.

LEBANON WAR DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT $1.38 BILLION, +11,000 BUILDINGS DESTROYED

On June 22, 2026, the UN and Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research estimated war damages at $1.38 billion based on satellite imagery, finding 11,095 buildings completely destroyed affecting civilian infrastructures. The assessment does not cover the most recent weeks of fighting.

UN RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ATTACKS ON PEACEKEEPERS

On June 23, 2026, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution co-sponsored by Pakistan and Denmark to improve accountability for attacks against UN peacekeepers, calling on the Secretary-General to establish a clear account of each future attack, appoint a senior official to coordinate investigations, and submit annual reports to the Council. The resolution, supported by over 150 countries, follows 7 UNIFIL peacekeepers killed since early March and 6 Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a Sudan drone attack in December. Since 1948, 1,150 peacekeepers have been killed in operation.

ISRAELI MACHINE-GUN FIRE KILLS 2 CIVILIANS NEAR NABATIEH

On June 23, 2026, Israeli machine-gun fire killed 2 people near Nabatieh, near a military bulldozer. Israel said it had identified a “terrorist cell” near its forces.

HEZBOLLAH ACCUSES ISRAEL OF 2ND CEASEFIRE VIOLATION, 2 KILLED IN DRONE STRIKE

On June 24, 2026, Hezbollah accused Israel of “a second violation in less than 48 hours” after an Israeli drone killed 2 people near Kfar Roummane. The Lebanese National News Agency confirmed 2 people were killed when a drone struck their vehicle. Israel stated it had targeted armed Hezbollah combatants “representing a threat.”

FRANCE AND ITALY ANNOUNCE POST-UNIFIL COALITION

On June 25, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced their intention to build a multinational coalition to replace UNIFIL when its mandate expires in December. Macron stated the goal was to “reinforce Lebanese sovereignty” and prevent the country’s territory from “becoming a base for regional escalation.” Meloni called an international presence “necessary to avoid an extremely dangerous security vacuum.”

SYRIA

SYRIAN-BRITISH ACTIVIST RELEASED

On June 21, 2026, Syrian-British activist Hassan Akkad announced his release after being arrested in Syria, reportedly in connection with his online campaign. Akkad had targeted businessman Mohammad Hamcho, who had close ties to the former Assad government and was subject to US and European sanctions but had reached a financial deal with the current authorities. He had previously been summoned by cybercrime authorities and had received death threats. He wrote on Instagram (200,000+ followers): “I am back home, safe and sound.”

WASSIM AL-ASSAD STANDS TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES

On June 24, 2026, Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, appeared in person at Damascus criminal court for his first public hearing, charged with founding and leading 2 armed groups and supplying them with “weapons, ammunition, financing and logistical support” for operations in Eastern Ghouta that killed “large numbers of civilians.” The charges include war crimes, crimes against humanity, drug trafficking and extortion. He denied the groups were affiliated with him. Wassim al-Assad is the first member of the Assad family to be arrested and tried in person. The trial of former mufti Ahmad Hassoun was scheduled to open the following day.

LEBANON TRANSFERS 128 SYRIAN PRISONERS

On June 24, 2026, Lebanon handed over 128 Syrian detainees to Damascus, the second batch under a bilateral agreement signed in February. A first transfer of 132 prisoners took place in March. The deal covers approximately 300 prisoners sentenced to 10 years or more, who will serve the remainder of their sentences in Syria. Those convicted of rape and murder are excluded. About 2,000 Syrians are held in Lebanese jails.

PALESTINE

AL JAZEERA CAMERAMAN AND A FAMILY KILLED IN GAZA

On June 20, 2026, Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah was killed in an Israeli drone strike on a house in the Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, making him the 12th Al Jazeera employee killed in Gaza since October 2023. The Israeli army stated Wishah was a Hamas operative without providing evidence, despite journalists asking. On the same night, strikes on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City killed 4 members of the al-Safadi family, including 2 children and their parents. Relative Nael al-Safadi and survivor Mohammad al-Safadi stated they had “no link with Hamas.” At least 1,012 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire. On June 21, 2026, Al Jazeera rejected Israeli allegations that cameraman Ahmed Wishah, killed the previous day, was a Hamas sniper, condemning Israel’s “unfounded accusations” as an attempt to “justify the deliberate targeting of journalists.” Wishah’s brother Mohammed, also an Al Jazeera journalist, had been killed in an April drone strike with the same Hamas allegation. Journalist Bilal Abu Samak, present at the scene, declared: “The occupation deliberately kills journalists.” According to Reporters Without Borders, over 220 journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023.

2 PALESTINIAN TEENAGERS SHOT DEAD IN WEST BANK

On June 22, 2026, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian teenagers near the Karmei Tzur settlement in the West Bank, with Israeli authorities taking their bodies away. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the victims as Reda Sami Awad, 15, and Arafat Ismail Awad, 19. The Israeli army stated they had thrown Molotov cocktails and that a 3rd individual was “neutralized.” Since October 2023, at least 1,082 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers while 46 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or military operations. UN OCHA reported a “record” rate of settler violence averaging 6 attacks per day.

MOROCCAN TROOPS JOIN INTERNATIONAL FORCE FOR GAZA

A Moroccan military contingent arrived at the headquarters of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in southern Israel. An anonymous official confirmed 4 Moroccan officers. The force has no concrete deployment yet. Israel claims to control at least 70% of the territory despite previous agreements.

UN INQUIRY: ISRAEL DELIBERATELY TARGETS PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN ONGOING GENOCIDE

On June 23, 2026, a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry accused Israel of “targeting” Palestinian children in Gaza as part of an ongoing “genocide,” an accusation Israel rejected. Commission President Srinivasan Muralidhar stated that “by targeting children, Israel is attacking the very capacity of the Palestinian people to exist.” Member Chris Sidoti declared: “We know who they are,” referring to specific Israeli military divisions and units identified in the report. The commission also cited targeting of neonatal and maternity services, famine caused by the Israeli blockade and destruction of educational structures in Gaza and the West Bank.

6 ISRAELI SETTLERS INDICTED FOR TERRORISM

On June 26, 2026, Israeli police filed 6 indictments for “terrorism, arson, vandalism and violent rioting” in the Palestinian village of Deir Debouane in the central West Bank, following a June 14 settler attack. According to police, the settlers entered the village masked and equipped with flammable substances, tear gas and a knife, then set fire to vegetation and vehicles, damaged the mosque, attacked homes and threw stones at houses. This brings to 51 the total indictments filed this year for settler violence. Human rights organizations note that indictments have not translated into improved security for Palestinians.

FLOTILLA ACTIVISTS TESTIFY TO TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

On June 24, 2026, 6 pro-Palestinian activists testified about alleged beatings, sexual abuse and humiliation by Israeli forces during the May interception of a Gaza Flotilla carrying 430 activists. French activists Meriem Hadjal, Malika Baouya, who sustained a cervical fracture, and Noé Tissot, along with Australian activists Violet Coco, Neve O’Connor and German social worker Johannes Happel, described being beaten inside darkened containers, subjected to sexual touching by masked soldiers and deprived of water and food. France and Italy have opened judicial investigations for torture and war crimes while Australia announced an independent inquiry. The Israeli army “rejected the accusations of abuse” despite that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir had published a video of humiliated activists, provoking widespread condemnation.

ISRAEL KILLS 2 PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS

On June 24, 2026, Israeli forces and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service killed Mohammed Zayed, 29, during a raid on a house in Yamoun in the northern West Bank. Property owner said he was killed “at close range in the yard, when they could have arrested him.” The Palestinian Red Crescent stated his team was barred from reaching the scene for 1.5 hours. On June 25, Moustafa Taha Moustafa al-Khatib, 32, was killed in Salfit.

IRAN-GULF-ISRAEL-US

IRAN SENTENCES ARTISTS TO 74 LASHES FOR YOUTUBE CONCERT

On June 20, 2026, an Iranian court sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and 7 fellow artists to 74 lashes each, plus a 2-year ban on artistic activities and a travel ban, for streaming a concert on YouTube in December 2024. Videographer Tahmineh Monzavi announced the sentence on Instagram. The Provincial Criminal Court of Qom convicted them of “immodesty for producing and broadcasting vulgar and immoral content.” Ahmadi had appeared without a headscarf, in a sleeveless dress; the concert was viewed 3 million times. They all have been briefly detained after the broadcast.

BAHRAIN STRIPS 69 SHIA OF NATIONALITY FOR SUPPORTING IRAN

On June 20, 2026, a report detailed how Bahrain stripped 69 people, including 33 children, of their citizenship, targeting Shia citizens of Persian descent accused of espionage or sympathy toward Tehran. Some were expelled and eventually forced to seek refuge in Iran. According to Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), at least 46 of the 69 are now stateless. BIRD Director Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei called the campaign “racist and discriminatory.”

NETANYAHU CALLS FOR MILITARY INDEPENDENCE FROM US

On June 23, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again called for Israel to “free itself from dependency” on US military aid and develop autonomous weapons production, in remarks to reserve officers in the occupied West Bank. Israel receives approximately $3.8 billion annually in US military financing, valid until 2028, representing about 15% of its defense budget. He had made similar calls in January and May 2025. His remarks followed the signing of a US-Iran framework agreement widely seen in Israel as a victory for Iran.

US SENATE ADOPTS SYMBOLIC RESOLUTION DEMANDING WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAN

On June 24, 2026, the US Senate adopted 50-48 a resolution demanding withdrawal of American forces from the Iranian conflict, a symbolic blow to President Donald Trump who does not need to veto it under congressional rules. Trump denounced the vote, accusing senators of “complicating his task” and giving “aid and comfort to the enemy.”

YEMEN

4 CHILDREN KILLED BY UXO

On June 22, 2026, four children were killed and eight others injured in the southern Ad-Dali governorate by the explosion of explosive remnants of war. The victims, three girls and one boy aged 6 to 14, were struck in a region that witnessed heavy combat a decade ago when Houthi rebels attempted to seize Aden. Such accidents are frequent in Yemen, where more than a decade of civil war has left the country divided between the Iran-aligned Houthis in the North and the internationally recognized government in the South.

AL ARABIYA JOURNALIST ASSASSINATED BY CAR BOMB

On June 25, 2026, Mohamed Aïda, a correspondent for the Saudi news channel Al Arabiya, was killed in the eastern city of Mukalla after a bomb placed under his car seat exploded. Aïda had been warned by security services a month earlier regarding threats to his life following high tensions in the city. Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province, was the site of a major offensive last December by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council before they were repelled by Saudi-supported Yemeni forces. Reporters Without Borders currently ranks Yemen 164th out of 180 countries for press freedom.

PAKISTAN

ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR TERRORISM

On June 24, 2026, a Quetta anti-terrorism court sentenced Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), to life imprisonment for alleged involvement in a 2024 protest in Gwadar during which a paramilitary soldier was beaten to death. She had been in administrative detention since March 2025. Amnesty International condemned the verdict as “an affront to the right to a fair trial.” Her lawyers rejected the charges and announced an appeal. The BYC advocates non-violence and campaigns for a share of Balochistan’s mineral wealth and an end to enforced disappearances.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIAN BOMBING KILLS 1 IN KHARKIV

On June 20, 2026, at least 1 person was killed and 9 wounded in a Russian attack on a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, according to city mayor Igor Terekhov and regional military chief Oleg Synegoubov.

UKRAINE STRIKES CRIMEA: 5 KILLED

On June 21, 2026, Ukrainian drone attacks killed 4 people and wounded 28 in the Kerch peninsula of occupied Crimea, and 1 person on the ferry Panagia crossing toward Kerch, according to Crimean Governor Sergueï Aksyonov. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed strikes on maritime logistics, a fuel depot at Kerch and S-400 radar systems. The sale of fuel at Crimea’s gas stations was suspended, with supply limited to essential services.

RUSSIAN STRIKES KILL 6 IN UKRAINE

On June 22, 2026, Russian strikes in northeastern and southern Ukraine killed at least 6 people. In Znob-Novgorodske, Sumy region, a drone struck a family home at 4:50 a.m., killing a 13-year-old boy, his father and his grandmother. The boy’s mother, brother and sister were wounded. In Zaporizhzhia, a woman died trapped in a fire started by a drone. In the Odessa region, an Iskander missile killed 1 person at an agricultural site. A cook, an Egyptian national, was killed when a Russian drone set fire to a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Black Sea.

UKRAINE STRIKES VORONEZH, 5 RUSSIANS KILLED

On June 22, 2026, a Ukrainian missile strike killed 5 people and wounded dozens in Voronezh, southwestern Russia, at what Ukraine described as a factory producing electronic components for Russian missiles. Governor Alexandre Goussev confirmed the casualties and an industrial fire on the city’s left bank. Ukraine’s armed forces stated it used precision airborne cruise missiles.

RUSSIA ACCUSES US OF ABANDONING MEDIATOR ROLE

On June 23, 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergueï Lavrov accused the United States of “abandoning any claim to the role of impartial mediator” in the Ukraine conflict and of “intensifying sanctions pressure on Russia.” Speaking to foreign diplomats in Moscow, he also accused Europe of becoming “the main threat to global peace and security” by arming Ukraine. His statement followed Trump’s signing at the G7 in France of a document pledging firmness toward Moscow, widely interpreted as an unexpected pro-Ukraine shift.

9 CIVILIANS KILLED ACROSS UKRAINE BY RUSSIAN ATTACKS

On June 23, 2026, a Russian ballistic missile strike on an industrial site in Kryvyï Rig, Dnipropetrovsk region, killed 3 people and wounded at least 23, according to municipal chief Oleksandr Vilkoul and regional governor Oleksandr Ganja. On the same day, Russian attacks killed 3 more in the Nikopol district, 1 woman in Zaporizhzhia, 1 woman in Kherson and a 26-year-old woman on an Odessa beach in a drone strike.

UKRAINIAN DRONE ATTACKS KILL 3, CUT POWER IN SEVASTOPOL, 1 KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKE ON KHARKIV

On June 24, 2026, Ukrainian drone attacks killed 1 person in Belgorod and 2 in Nizhny Novgorod, and cut electricity to Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, where Governor Mikhaïl Razvojaïev warned of outages. Ukraine’s SBU claimed strikes on air defense systems and military airfields in Crimea. A woman was killed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, according to regional military chief Oleg Synegubov. 4 houses, a shop and an outbuilding were damaged and fires broke out.

RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS

On June 24, 2026, Yabloko party opposition member and former Moscow Parliament deputy Maxim Krouglov was sentenced to 7 years in a prison colony for spreading “false information” about the Russian army based on 2022 social media posts. He had been in pre-trial detention since October 2025. Yabloko President Nikolaï Rybakov condemned the verdict as “obvious political reprisal.” Yabloko is the only party still legal in Russia openly opposing the war. 11 of its members face criminal charges. Amnesty International accused the Kremlin of targeting Yabloko ahead of the September 2026 legislative elections.

RUSSIAN STRIKE IN KHERSON KILLS A NORWEGIAN NGO DEMINER

On June 24, 2026, a Russian strike in Novopetrivka, Kherson region, approximately 40 km from the front line, killed a 24-year-old Ukrainian demining specialist employed by Norwegian NGO Norsk Folkehjelp and wounded 5 colleagues. Mission head Bujar Hoxha told the attack may have involved cluster munitions.

UKRAINE AND RUSSIA EXCHANGE 160 PRISONERS OF WAR

On June 26, 2026, Ukraine and Russia exchanged 160 prisoners of war each, confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media and by Russia’s Defense Ministry. All 160 Ukrainian military personnel had been in captivity since 2022, having fought in eastern, northern and southern Ukraine. According to Kyiv, over 15,000 Ukrainian civilians are detained in Russian prisons and approximately 7,000 military personnel were in captivity as of February.

1 INJURED IN UKRAINIAN DRONES ATTACK

On June 26, 2026, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced it had downed 660 Ukrainian drones overnight, one of the highest totals since the start of the conflict, over more than a dozen regions including Moscow. In the Tula region, 180 km south of Moscow, Governor Dimitri Milaïev reported a house damaged and a woman wounded.

CRIMEA PLACED UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY

On June 26, 2026, Russian-appointed Crimea Governor Sergueï Aksionov declared a regional “state of emergency” after weeks of Ukrainian strikes on fuel and energy infrastructure caused severe shortages across the peninsula. Fuel sales to private individuals had been suspended and all summer camps cancelled. Aksionov acknowledged on June 25 that “the fuel situation is the most critical.” Ukraine’s SBU claimed strikes on 2 Russian logistics vessels and air defense systems at Kerch.

CAMBODIA

THE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS 14-YEAR SENTENCES FOR 2 JOURNALISTS

On June 25, 2026, Cambodia’s Supreme Court confirmed 14-year prison sentences against journalists Pheap Phara and Phorn Sopheap, convicted of treason for publishing a photo near the disputed Thai border temple of Ta Krabei in July 2025. Thai media had claimed the image showed undeployed landmines. The 2 were convicted in December for transmitting “information against national defense”. An appeal court confirmed the ruling in March. Supreme Court Vice-President Taing Sunlay announced the final rejection of their appeal. Am Sam Ath of NGO Licadho warned the convictions would “affect press freedom.” Cambodia ranks 151st out of 180 in the RSF press freedom index.

MYANMAR

MYANMAR MILITARY KILLED OVER +700 CIVILIANS DURING ELECTION PERIOD

On June 22, 2026, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 702 civilians, including 224 women and 153 children, were killed by the Myanmar military between August 2025 and January 2026, more than half in airstrikes. UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani confirmed all 702 deaths were attributable to the Myanmar army. The report noted death spikes in August-September 2025 and December 2025-January 2026, coinciding with election announcements and military advances. At least 505 civilians were killed in airstrikes using fighter jets, drones, and other aircrafts. The UN recommended referral to the ICC and a halt to arms transfers to Myanmar.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND RELATIONS

LIBYAN COURT SENTENCES WAR CRIMES PERPETRATOR

On June 22, 2026, a Libyan court sentenced former judicial police chief Osama Almasri Najim to 7 years and 4 months in prison for violating the rights of detainees in Tripoli’s main prison, according to a communiqué from the National Prosecutor. He had been in detention in Libya since November. Almasri is also subject to an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since February 15, 2015. He had been arrested in Turin, Italy in January 2025 but released 2 days later and expelled to Tripoli by the Italian government. The European Court of Human Rights had requested explanations from Italy in late May after 2 people alleged torture in sites he ran.

POLAND AND UKRAINE LAUNCH SECOND PHASE OF WWII MASS GRAVE EXHUMATIONS

On June 22, 2026, Poland’s Ministry of Culture announced the start of the second phase of joint exhumations with Ukraine at Pouzniki, Volhynia, searching for a second mass grave believed to hold “several dozen” victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) killed in 1943-1945. Poland recognized UPA massacres of Polish civilians as genocide in 2016.

JIHADISTS TURN SAHEL FORESTS INTO OPERATIONAL BASES

On June 22, 2026, a report detailed how jihadist groups, primarily JNIM, have transformed protected forests and nature reserves into permanent bases, prompting Mali to ban civilians from 39 forests including the 80,000-hectare Faya forest near Bamako, following deadly April attacks by JNIM and Tuareg separatists that killed the Defense Minister. Analyst Franklin Nossiter from the International Crisis Group said that armed drones are “less effective” due to “heavy vegetation.” Researcher Samir Bhattacharya of the Observer Research Foundation noted jihadists exploit artisanal mining, herding and smuggling from these bases. Similar forest bans exist in Burkina Faso and Niger since 2023.

AMNESTY CONDEMNS EU PLAN TO EXTEND COOPERATION WITH LIBYA

On June 23, 2026, Amnesty International condemned EU plans to deepen cooperation with Libyan authorities, including eastern armed groups, amid an intensifying crackdown on migrant people. Deputy Director Diana Eltahawy called the EU “already complicit in terrible human rights abuses” through support of Libyan coast guards, and called extending cooperation to eastern armed groups “a shocking disregard for international law.” Among the EU plans is a maritime rescue coordination center in Benghazi, even as Libyan coast guards fired on a Sea Watch rescue vessel in mid-May, the 3rd such incident in under a year. Approximately 900,000 migrant people and refugees are in Libya as of mid-2024.

SOUTH AFRICA: MALAWIAN KILLED IN XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE

On June 23, 2026, South African police announced an investigation into the murder of a young Malawian national in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly attacked after an anti-immigrant demonstration on June 20. Municipal councilor Suraya Reddy confirmed his identity. Police stated he was assaulted by a group, fled and was found in a river with a head wound. Hundreds of Malawians gathered in Pietermaritzburg to request repatriation. Armed groups have marched in several regions demanding undocumented foreigners leave by June 30, an ultimatum with no legal basis.

3 ITALIAN FLOTILLA ACTIVISTS FREED AFTER 1 MONTH IN LIBYA

On June 24, 2026, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the release of Domenico Centrone and Leonarda Alberizia, 2 Italian activists from the Gaza Flotilla held in Libya for a month, along with Uruguayan-Italian national Matias Alvarez Rodriguez. Unlike the others, they were traveling by land, through North Africa. They were carrying a humanitarian cargo, including medicine, destined for the people of Gaza. They were part of a group of 230 activists. The Global Sumud Flotilla stated they had been “subjected to arbitrary detention, deprived of all communication and subjected to constant psychological pressure.” 6 other activists were expected to be released.

SWITZERLAND SEEKS ADDITIONAL AIR DEFENSE

On June 24, 2026, Switzerland announced negotiations with France, Israel and South Korea to acquire an additional long-range surface-to-air defense system, due to a 4 to 5 year delay in delivery of the US Patriot system purchased in 2021. Switzerland also confirmed it could only acquire 30 F-35A aircraft instead of 36 due to cost overruns.

3 ICC JUDGES SANCTIONED BY US FILE LAWSUIT IN NEW YORK

On June 25, 2026, 3 ICC judges sanctioned by the Trump administration filed a complaint in New York against the President and senior US officials, arguing the measures were illegal. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, Uganda’s Solomy Balungi Bossa and Benin’s Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou stated the sanctions sought to “exert extrajudicial pressure” and amounted to “financial death sentences.” The 66-page complaint, also naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, called the measures “unprecedented.” The sanctions were largely a response to ICC arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

LAST AUSTRALIAN WOMAN LINKED TO ISLAMIC STATE RETURN HOME

On June 25, 2026, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the last Australian woman blocked in the Middle East over alleged Islamic State ties would be allowed to return, as her “temporary exclusion order” has expired. She is the last of over 30 women and children in the group. Upon return, she will face strict monitoring including surveillance and restricted phone and computer access.

NAZI CAMP VICTIMS’ BELONGINGS RETURNED TO FAMILIES

On June 25, 2026, personal belongings of 4 Greek deportees held at the Neuengamme concentration camp were returned to their families in Athens, as part of a campaign by the Arolsen Archives. Director Moritz Wein supervised the return of watches, a bracelet, a brooch, a wallet and a ring. Greek students spent months tracing descendants in municipal, police and Red Cross archives. The Arolsen Archives still hold 2,000 envelopes of personal effects yet to be returned to families.

SOUTH KOREA PLANS TO ACQUIRE 20,000 MILITARY DRONES

On June 26, 2026, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced a plan to acquire over 20,000 low-cost military drones, drawing lessons from Ukraine and Western Asia. The ministry will deploy the locally developed K-LUCAS long-range drone strike system, develop AI-driven drone swarms and deploy anti-drone systems along border zones from next year. The ministry reaffirmed its goal of training 500,000 “drone warriors.” The Drone Operations Command, created in 2023, will be reorganized into a new Drone Defense Headquarters.