Kyiv continues to work simultaneously on strengthening its defense, returning abducted children, and advancing toward membership in the European Union — while the EU is launching a new stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine. At the same time, russian strikes are increasingly damaging not only residential infrastructure but also the country’s cultural heritage. Against the backdrop of intensified russian attacks, Ukraine is warning of a shortage of Patriot missiles and is asking its allies to allocate an additional $20 billion for military needs.
Ukraine Calls on the U.S. to Step Up Assistance in Returning Children Abducted by russia
Ukrainian authorities are intensifying international efforts to return children whom russia has taken from the occupied territories and from Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Maksym Maksymov, head of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, saidduring a visit to Washington that time is working against Ukraine and that the scale of the problem continues to grow. According to official data, Ukraine has identified at least 20,000 children who are under russian control, but only about 2,200 have been returned. At the same time, between 1.5 and 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain under occupation and are at risk of being influenced by russia’s system of ideological indoctrination.
According to Maksymov, while children were previously taken en masse to russia, the occupation authorities have now created a network of educational and military-patriotic institutions directly in the occupied territories. Ukrainian officials and American politicians emphasize that the return of children must remain one of the key points of international pressure on the kremlin. Sociological studies in the United States show that after learning the facts about the deportation of children, Americans are significantly more likely to support military aid to Ukraine and a tougher policy toward russia. The issue of abducted children remains one of the most sensitive aspects of the war and the subject of an international investigation into war crimes.
Ukraine Moves Forward on the Path to European Union Membership
Ukraine has taken another step toward joining the European Union after many months of the process being blocked. In Luxembourg, a new stage of negotiations officially began on reforms required for the country’s future EU membership. One of the key reasons for the renewed momentum was the change of power in Hungary, where new Prime Minister Peter Magyar changed the policy of his predecessor Viktor Orban, who had long blocked progress on Ukraine’s application. Kyiv must now move toward the practical implementation of the first package of reforms related to the rule of law, the judicial system, and public administration.
Despite positive signals from Brussels, Ukraine’s full membership remains a long-term prospect. The accession process requires the implementation of more than thirty reform chapters and, on average, takes about nine years. Discussions continue within the EU on possible interim formats for Ukraine’s integration that could provide economic benefits even before all procedures are completed. At the same time, a number of member states emphasize the need to preserve the standard accession procedure because of the economic and political consequences of the Union’s enlargement.
Patriot Missile Shortage Becomes One of the Main Problems for Ukrainian Air Defense
russia is increasingly using ballistic missiles during mass attacks on Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine’s stockpiles of Patriot interceptor missiles are shrinking. This was reported by The New York Times citing Ukrainian military officials, diplomats, and experts. According to them, the pace of missile deliveries is not keeping up with the sharp increase in the number of russian strikes. As a result, air defense units are forced to make difficult decisions about how to allocate limited resources among different areas of protection.
Experts emphasize that the production of modern PAC-3 missiles remains complex and does not meet global demand. In 2025 alone, russia has already launched more than 400 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, and by the end of the year this figure could rise significantly. Ukrainian military officials note that in some cases launchers simply run out of ammunition during new waves of attacks. That is why Kyiv continues to insist on increased Patriot deliveries while also seeking alternative solutions to strengthen its missile defense system.
Ukraine Asks Allies to Allocate Another $20 Billion to Increase Pressure on russia
Ukraine intends to ask its allies to provide an additional $20 billion to finance defense needs and develop new military capabilities. As reported by Politico, the request is expected to be officially presented during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format. Kyiv believes that the current situation on the front creates a window of opportunity to increase pressure on russia, but without additional resources this advantage could be lost. The funds are expected to come both in the form of aid and as loans from partners.
The funding is planned to be directed toward the purchase of air defense systems, drones, ammunition, electronic warfare equipment, and long-range strike capabilities. Part of the resources may also be used to purchase weapons under NATO programs and to support Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex. The Ukrainian side emphasizes that it was precisely strikes on russia’s logistics, oil refining infrastructure, and military facilities that helped change the dynamics of the fighting in recent months. Kyiv fears that without new investments, russia will be able to adapt to Ukrainian technological solutions and regain the initiative.
Russian Strike Damages Ukraine’s Cultural Sites
A massive russian missile and drone attack caused a fire at one of Ukraine’s most important Christian and cultural sites — the Dormition Cathedral, built in 1073–1078, which is one of the main cathedrals of the Orthodox monastic complex of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, located in Kyiv and included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, russian shelling also destroyed other cultural institutions across the country that night. In particular, the Kharkiv Art Museum and film studios in Kyiv, where a collection of 100,000 costumes was stored, came under attack. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 11 people were killed as a result of the attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called the damage to the Lavra “an attack on the Christian community and the cultural heritage of humanity.” The russian side claimed without evidence that the cathedral had allegedly been hit by a Patriot missile, while Ukrainian security services published photos of fragments of a russian attack drone. The damage to the shrine occurred against the backdrop of moscow’s long-standing attempts to preserve its cultural and religious influence over the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which after 2023 came fully under the control of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian military, in one night russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones at Ukraine, most of which were shot down.
The political review is based on a personal special issue of VM resident Orest Deychakivsky.
Photo: ArmyInform
Author: Danylo Pievchev