Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, Kyiv, June 28, 2025

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Despite Trump, Russia Isn’t “Winning” in Ukraine

Saturday’s Coverage: Kyiv’s Drones Hit 4 Russian Warplanes

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 0751 GMT:

Ukrainian F-16 pilot Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko was killed during Russia’s overnight aerial attacks.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ustymenko destroyed seven targets during Russia’s attack with 477 drones and 60 missiles, a record daily total during Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

The Air Force said Ustymenko’s aircraft was damaged as he was trying to shoot down the last of the seven targets, losing altitude and crashing.

“Maksym Ustymenko did his best to take the plane away from the settlement, but did not have time to eject,” the Air Force said. “[He died] like a hero.”

The Ukraine Air Force said air defenses downed 211 of the 477 drones, and 225 were lost to electronic counter-measures. The defenses intercepted 38 of 60 missiles, and one was lost to counter-measures.

Zelensky summarized:

Just this week alone, there have been more than 114 missiles, over 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs. Putin long ago decided he would keep waging war, despite the world’s calls for peace. This war must be brought to an end — pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection. Protection from ballistic and other missiles, from drones, and from terror. Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense — the thing that best protects lives. These are American systems, which we are ready to buy. We count on leadership, political will, and the support of the United States, Europe, and all our partners.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: In a symbolic show of neighboring Poland’s support for resistance against Russia’s 40-month invasion, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has hosted outgoing Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.

A fervent backer of Kyiv, Duda leaves office on August 6. His successor Karol Nawrocki, who narrowly won the election early this month, is sceptical of continued assistance for Ukraine’s defense and has insulted Zelensky as “indecent”.

The Government of centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk is still the most important part of the Polish system. However, the President is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces and can veto Parliamentary legislation.

Zelensky posted on Saturday:

We discussed the further development of relations between our countries, the security situation in the region, and possible decisions at the EU level and in coordination with NATO partners. These months, we have been implementing significant Ukrainian-Polish agreements in the field of defense cooperation.

At a joint press conference, Zelensky said, “Poland is now preparing for the inauguration of its new president Nawrocki. We will do everything in our power to ensure that relations between our countries only grow stronger.”