What happened during the week from June 15th to 21st. The main thing

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have launched several massive attacks on Moscow. One of them has become the largest in two years. The Russia–ASEAN summit was held in Kazan, and the G7 summit was held in Evian-les-Bains, France. The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, and Israel continued its operation in Lebanon. All the main events of the week are in the Izvestia digest.

Massive UAV attacks on Moscow

There have been several massive drone attacks on the Russian capital this week. On Tuesday morning, June 16, the air defense forces shot down 60 Ukrainian drones attacking Moscow. As a result, the Moscow Oil Refinery was damaged — a fire broke out there. It was extinguished after about three hours.

Two days later, on June 18, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a new attack on Moscow — it became the most massive in two years. The mayor of the city, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that a total of about 180 UAVs were shot down on approach to the capital. A fire broke out at the MNPZ again. The next day, on June 19th, there was another massive drone attack. Sobyanin reported 76 downed UAVs, no injuries or damage.

The Moscow region was also hit. As a result of a night attack by 86 UAVs on June 16, six people were injured, including a 13-year-old girl. Residential buildings and an administrative building were damaged. After the new attack on June 18, Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported damage to a fitness center and an industrial facility in Lyubertsy. The wreckage of the UAV fell on the roof of the Belaya Dacha shopping center, a fire started, which was extinguished later in the afternoon. A total of 16 people were injured. An eight-year-old girl died in Zhukovsky near Moscow. She was at home with her grandmother when the UAV debris fell on the building and a fire broke out.

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17. This is a document that expresses the intention of the two sides to end the war. The signing took place remotely: American leader Donald Trump personally signed a copy of the agreement during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Versailles Palace. A photo of the document was sent to the Iranians and intermediary countries, after which it was signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This format did not prevent the agreement from coming into force.

According to the memorandum, the parties must agree to end the war within 60 days. Otherwise, Trump warned, the United States would resume bombing. However, Israel did not stop the bombing of Lebanon. Al Jazeera TV channel reported that as a result of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on June 18, at least 47 people were killed, and on June 19, 97 more people were injured. Against this background, on June 20, Iran again announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for shipping. At the same time, the Central Command of the US Armed Forces assured that navigation in the Strait of Hormuz remains safe.

Russia–ASEAN Summit in Kazan

The Russia–ASEAN Summit, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Russian Federation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), was held in Kazan from June 17 to 19. As part of the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on June 17. A total of 11 Asian countries participated.

The next day, Putin issued a statement to the media following the summit. He noted the commitment of Russia and ASEAN to creating a multipolar world order, and also called for switching to national currencies in settlements between the parties. In addition, Putin said that leading Russian IT companies are sharing advanced developments, including technologies in the field of artificial intelligence, with colleagues from ASEAN. Russia and ASEAN also welcome the conclusion of a memorandum between the United States and Iran.

G7 Summit in France

The G7 summit was held in the French city of Evian-les-Bains on June 16-17. He gathered the leaders of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the USA, France and Japan. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the summit. Following the meeting, the G7 leaders agreed to expand military assistance to Kiev by increasing the supply of air defense systems and long-range complexes. In addition, the Group of Seven announced plans to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, including measures against the oil and gas sector.

Trump repeated at the G7 summit that the war in Iran is over and Washington will now focus on the Ukrainian conflict. He also pointed to the high losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, the US president announced that he had held a meeting with Zelensky. Speaking about Iran, Trump stressed that the deal with Tehran will remain in force even if Israel continues its strikes on Lebanon. In addition, he admitted that the United States may restore sanctions against Russia after the resumption of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukrainian Armed Forces strike on bus with children from Belarus

On June 17, an APU drone attacked a bus in the Bryansk region. It housed a children's football team from the Belarusian city of Rechitsy. Eight people were injured in the impact, including six children. The wife of one of the coaches was also killed, the woman was pregnant. A criminal case has been opened into the terrorist attack. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Kiev for the strike. Putin ordered urgent assistance to all the victims.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko thanked Russia for helping the victims and took personal control of the investigation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike. On June 19, the CIS permanent Representatives condemned Kiev's attack on a bus with children. In particular, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the Commonwealth, Igor Nazaruk, announced the presentation of a note of protest to Charge d'affaires of Ukraine Ivan Novitsky.

The Russian Armed Forces continue their offensive in the zone of their

The armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued their offensive in the special operation zone during the week. On Tuesday, June 16, the settlement of New Donbass in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) came under the control of the Russian army. The next day, the Russian Armed Forces liberated the village of Kutuzovka in the DPR. Also on June 18, the District of Alexandrovka, also in the DPR, came under the control of Russian troops.

In addition, from June 13 to June 19, the Russian Armed Forces carried out one massive and six group strikes with precision weapons and drone strikes on targets in Ukraine. As a result, objects of the military-industrial complex, fuel and energy, transport and port infrastructure used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.

The Russian army continues its offensive in Krasny Liman. According to the Ministry of Defense, at the time of June 21, the offensive is underway in the northwestern part of the city. In this area, the Russian military cleared 53 buildings from Ukrainian armed formations. In addition, units of the 31st and 37th regiments of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division took control of 12 Ukrainian Armed Forces strongholds and cleared 53 buildings of Ukrainian soldiers. There is also progress in the DPR's Konstantinovka. On June 21, the Agency reported that 104 buildings had been liberated from the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a day. Kiev lost up to 85 soldiers.

The court in The Hague ruled on the Kerch Strait

On June 15, Russia won a dispute with Ukraine in international arbitration on rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. The trial lasted 10 years. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has confirmed that the waters are the internal waters of Russia.

Thus, Kiev was denied the return of control over resources, as well as the payment of any compensation. In addition, the demands to recognize Russia's sovereignty over the entire Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait as illegal were rejected. In addition, the arbitrators rejected the demand to dismantle the Crimean Bridge.

The court proceedings did not affect Kiev's aggression. On June 21, Crimean Governor Sergei Aksyonov announced that Kiev had launched a massive UAV attack on the Kerch Peninsula. As a result, four people were killed and 28 others were injured. After the incident, the free sale of fuel in Crimea was temporarily suspended and a temporary power outage schedule was introduced. In addition, it was reported that ferry services through the Kerch ferry had been suspended since June 21. A criminal case has been opened into the terrorist attack.

The scandal over the Polish Order of the White Eagle

On June 19, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the republic's highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle, due to the glorification of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA, recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation and banned). In response, the Ukrainian president returned the order to Poland by mail. Former Ukrainian leader Leonid Kuchma also refused a state award on June 20.

On June 21, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev noted that the refusal of the former and current Ukrainian authorities from the Order of the White Eagle testifies to their Nazi position. According to him, such a step demonstrates their attitude to historical events and political decisions related to this period. Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller added that Kiev should return to Warsaw military equipment and weapons supplied as part of support programs.

The Central Bank lowered the key rate to 14.25%

On June 19, the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Russia decided to reduce the key rate by 25 basis points to 14.25% per annum. The regulator noted that monetary conditions continue to gradually soften, but still remain tight. According to the regulator's forecast, annual inflation will decrease to 4.5–5.5% in 2026 and reach the target of 4% in the second half of 2026.

The head of the Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, said at a press conference that in July the regulator would revise the forecast for the key rate. She admitted that in the future, the Central Bank may need to pause in further decisions, and the rate trajectory may be revised "up rather than down" due to increased pro-inflationary risks. In addition, she explained her two-week absence from the information field, confirming that she had a cold with loss of voice.

The State Duma elections are scheduled for September 20.

On June 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the appointment of elections of deputies of the State Duma (State Duma) of the ninth convocation for September 20 this year. Voting will take place on a single election day. 450 deputies will be elected: 225 from single-mandate constituencies and 225 from party lists.

On June 17, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia recognized the possibility of holding elections of State Duma deputies in the regions of Donbass and Novorossiya, where martial law is in effect. The head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said that the decision was made after consultations with the Ministry of Defense, the FSB and the leadership of the relevant entities. The CEC also decided that the elections of deputies of the State Duma and the campaigns combined with them will be held within three days — from September 18 to September 20.