Politics

US Treasury allows license for Russian oil sales to expire

The US Treasury Department did not publish an extension of the general license for the exclusion of Russian maritime oil from sanctions, which expired at midnight on Wednesday, June 17, Reuters writes. At the same time, President Donald Trump and administration representatives did not clarify whether this means the return of restrictions.

Human rights defenders documented 8,231 cases of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces

Human rights defenders documented 8,231 cases of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces from the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine until the end of 2025. This is stated in a report by Austausch e.V., Ukrainian organizations 'Expert Group "Sova"', 'Center for Civil Liberties', 'War Archive', and independent experts.

European Parliament Approves New Rules for Deporting Refugees: People Can Be Sent to Centers Outside the EU

The European Parliament has approved new rules for deporting people without the right to stay in the European Union, including rejected asylum seekers. 418 deputies voted for the text agreed with the Council of EU, 218 against, and 30 abstained. The regulation is intended to replace the current 2008 Return Directive and significantly expands the powers of European authorities.

Message about the arrest of Ilya Trauber removed from the Telegram channel of the press service of Moscow courts

A message about the arrest of criminal authority Ilya Trauber was removed from the Telegram channel of the joint press service of the courts of general jurisdiction of Moscow, The Insider noted. According to tgstat data, the post, published the day before at 21:09 Moscow time, was deleted on the morning of June 18, at 8:03.

Drones Attack Moscow Refinery in Kapotnya for the Second Time in Two Days. A Major Fire Broke Out.

Ukrainian UAVs attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya in the southeastern part of the Russian capital on the night of June 18. "Several drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery. Measures are being taken to eliminate the consequences," the Telegram channel of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reports.

OSINT analysts report hits on several key installations at the Moscow Refinery

On the night of June 18, Ukrainian drones attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya again. Judging by the published photos and videos, the strike hit several key facilities of the enterprise at once. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin admitted that several UAVs managed to reach the factory territory. This is the third attack on the Moscow Refinery in less than a month and the second in the last two days.

Ukrainian "chaotic clean-ups" in Kostiantynivka, Russian troops attack east of Dobropillya. What's happening on the front

On the Kostiantynivka front, Ukrainian forces are reportedly conducting "chaotic clean-ups" in Kostiantynivka.

US Department of Labor threatens to defund states 'inactive in fighting unemployment benefits fraud'

The US Department of Labor sent letters to the governors of all states demanding immediate measures against 'fraud, wasteful spending, and abuse' in unemployment insurance programs. Otherwise, states risk the suspension of administrative funding, according to Associated Press.

Antiquarian's Arrest: What is Known About Putin's Friend, Criminal Authority Traber, and the Reorganization of the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal?

In St. Petersburg, one of the most famous representatives of the St. Petersburg criminal underworld of the 1990s, Ilya Traber, known by the nickname Antiquarian, has been arrested. Along with him, his long-time business partner Vladimir Danilenko was detained. According to preliminary data, both are involved in the case of the murder of Vyborg city council deputy and entrepreneur Alexander Petrov, who was shot in October 2020. The Basmanny District Court also remanded in custody Alisultan Nadirbegov, whom the investigation identifies as the perpetrator of the murder.

Georgian citizen detained in Poland in connection with the murder of artist Skreppetsky, announced Polish Prime Minister Tusk

A suspect involved in the murder of Russian opposition artist and caricaturist Semyon Skreppetsky (real name Robert Kuzovkov) has been detained in Poland. As Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Twitter, the detainee "uses a Georgian passport."

Ukrainian “seepages” towards Velyka Novosilka, raid on Moscow refinery, fourth non-combat loss of Tu-22M3. What is happening on the front

On the Kupyansk direction, successes of the RF Armed Forces are reported north of Kupyansk and on the left bank of the Oskil River.

WSJ: US Justice Department leadership approved Paramount and Warner Bros. merger without waiting for antitrust lawyers' verdict

The US Department of Justice leadership closed the antitrust investigation into the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery deal before the department's lawyers responsible for the procedure could formulate their final recommendation on the matter, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources.