{"id":2013127,"date":"2026-06-26T10:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T07:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2013127"},"modified":"2026-06-26T10:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T07:13:32","slug":"ukraine-launches-40-day-operation-to-pressure-russia-to-end-the-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2013127","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine launches 40-day operation to \u2018pressure Russia to end the war\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/46\/23\/1200x675_cmsv2_6616c891-00ba-579d-a005-2ff7eb9ddde7-9814623.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905260-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905260\" data-cid=\"9815411\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905260-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/56\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_72e53eb0-a2fa-5e32-8cf5-87043813047e-9805645.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran denies direct US hotline as Trump warns of ceasefire violations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905214-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905214\" data-cid=\"9815478\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905214-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/51\/16\/189x106_cmsv2_12a5f0c1-f956-53f0-9957-999e7fd9a24b-9815116.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Workers clear rubble from a collapsed building in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday 25 June 2026, a day after the twin earthquakes.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    920 dead and 3,360 injured: new toll in Venezuela\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905285-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905285\" data-cid=\"9815459\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905285-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_6855d240-444c-51af-87d8-c0511a5bd4b5-9815450.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ap\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Lebanon<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rubio announces Israel-Lebanon framework deal as first step\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905196-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905196\" data-cid=\"9815434\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905196-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/49\/87\/189x106_cmsv2_4feee668-0990-56f0-93e5-33d7a2fb7ddb-9814987.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Wild boar spotted on Arr\u00e1bida beaches\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wild boar stealing food from bathers again on Portuguese beaches\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905260-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905260\" data-cid=\"9815411\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905260-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/56\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_72e53eb0-a2fa-5e32-8cf5-87043813047e-9805645.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran denies direct US hotline as Trump warns of ceasefire violations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905214-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905214\" data-cid=\"9815478\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905214-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/51\/16\/189x106_cmsv2_12a5f0c1-f956-53f0-9957-999e7fd9a24b-9815116.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Workers clear rubble from a collapsed building in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday 25 June 2026, a day after the twin earthquakes.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    920 dead and 3,360 injured: new toll in Venezuela\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905285-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905285\" data-cid=\"9815459\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905285-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_6855d240-444c-51af-87d8-c0511a5bd4b5-9815450.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ap\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Lebanon<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rubio announces Israel-Lebanon framework deal as first step\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905196-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905196\" data-cid=\"9815434\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905196-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/49\/87\/189x106_cmsv2_4feee668-0990-56f0-93e5-33d7a2fb7ddb-9814987.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Wild boar spotted on Arr\u00e1bida beaches\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wild boar stealing food from bathers again on Portuguese beaches\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Ukraine launches 40-day operation to \u2018pressure Russia to end the war\u2019 <\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/46\/23\/1536x864_cmsv2_6616c891-00ba-579d-a005-2ff7eb9ddde7-9814623.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"FILE: A plume of black smoke is seen over the port of St. Petersburg, Russia, June 3, 2026, after a Ukrainian drone attack.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              FILE: A plume of black smoke is seen over the port of St. Petersburg, Russia, June 3, 2026, after a Ukrainian drone attack.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSasha Vakulina\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782468812\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-06-26 12:13:32 +02:00\">26\/06\/2026 &#8211; 12:13 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"14:48\">14:48<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment 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alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Kyiv announced a 40-day operation aimed at \u201cpressuring Russia to end its war,&#8221; prompting the Russian-installed occupation authorities in Crimea to announce a regional state of emergency on Friday.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he approved a plan for Ukraine\u2019s State Security Service (SBU) to launch a 40-day operation aimed at pressuring Russia to end the war. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Zelenskyy\u2019s announcement comes after his meeting with SBU chief Major General Yevhenii Khmara, who reported on Kyiv\u2019s \u201cplan for long-range sanctions, medium-range sanctions, and the results achieved by the SBU,&#8221; Zelenskyy said on X. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor several months in a row, the SBU has demonstrated the highest performance in defending Ukraine\u2019s positions on the front lines through the use of various types of drones,\u201d Zelensky said on Thursday evening. <\/p>\n<p>Following his statement, Moscow-installed occupation authorities in Crimea announced a regional state of emergency on Friday.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is this operation about?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>With all of Ukraine\u2019s military planning remaining strictly confidential, Zelenskyy did not provide additional details on what this operation would entail. <\/p>\n<p>He did praise the SBU for its recent success in &#8220;hitting personnel and equipment of the occupying forces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mentioning the mid- and long-range \u201csanction\u201d \u2014 a term used by Kyiv to describe its drone strikes into Russia and Moscow-occupied territories \u2014 also reads as a hint for what is coming.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past several weeks, Ukrainian forces have dealt a series of blows to Russia&#8217;s logistics, energy infrastructure, and sense of \u201csafety of deep rear\u201d by launching strikes against Crimea and Moscow.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Crimea and Moscow likely to remain priority<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Back-to-back drone strikes on the Russian capital \u2014 the most protected part of the country \u2014 shut down the Moscow Oil Refinery, worsening a fuel crisis across the country and bringing the war home to the Russian population, who have been living in relative peace for over four years of Moscow\u2019s all-out invasion of Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>Right after the announcement on Thursday evening, Moscow authorities reported about dozens of drones launched by Kyiv towards the Russian capital. <\/p>\n<p>Over the past few days, Ukraine\u2019s military intelligence also reported that Ukraine\u2019s long-range strike campaign forced Russia to redeploy air defence systems to protect what seems to be the prioritised sites: Moscow and the illegally built Kerch Bridge, weakening coverage in other Russian regions and occupied territories. <\/p>\n<p>\u201dIn practice, these are the two areas the Russians have been ordered to defend at the expense of weakening other sectors of their territory and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,&#8221; Zelenskyy said. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>&#8216;Hell is beginning&#8217; for Russian troops in Crimea, Kyiv said<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The regional state of emergency in occupied Crimea came a just days after Ukrainian forces hit a railway bridge across the North Crimean Canal, fuel facilities, and military infrastructure across occupied Crimea.<\/p>\n<p>Widespread power outages in Crimea have left approximately half of the peninsula without electricity.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s mid-strike campaign \u2014 which generally includes attacks within 20 to 200km \u2014 has already choked the logistics in Russia-occupied Crimea, cutting off Moscow\u2019s supply routes for its troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>Kyiv plans to fully isolate the peninsula, cutting it off from Moscow while destroying critical infrastructure \u2014 ultimately putting Russian troops there under siege. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hell is beginning,&#8221; Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on 17 June. &#8220;Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kyiv\u2019s campaign is already in full force on the annexed peninsula. Crimea is experiencing severe fuel shortages, with many Russian tourists heading home in panic. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Belarus factor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Zelenskyy also issued yet another warning to Belarus over Minsk&#8217;s &#8220;potential expansion of aggression&#8221; against Ukraine, saying that the placement of military infrastructure along the Belarus-Ukraine border was nearly done.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The construction of road infrastructure and storage bases for ammunition and fuel and lubricants is nearing completion,&#8221; Zelenskyy said after receiving a briefing from Ukraine&#8217;s Foreign Intelligence Service.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These facilities have no purpose other than a military one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Belarus&#8217; exiled opposition handed Kyiv a list of warning signs that Minsk soon plans to enter Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine, outlining how Aliaksandr Lukashenka is shifting his policies towards a wartime posture.<\/p>\n<p>The latest warning from Zelenskyy comes a day after Lukashenka appeared to accept Kyiv\u2019s ultimatum to remove communications equipment on Belarus territory that Ukraine says was helping support Russian drone strikes. <\/p>\n<p>Kyiv warned that Belarus would face unspecified action from Ukraine if the equipment was not removed.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past several months, Ukraine has been sounding an alarm that Moscow, Minsk&#8217;s closest ally, may be attempting to draw Belarus deeper into its confrontation with Kyiv in an attempt to aid in the Kremlin&#8217;s war effort.<\/p>\n<p>Belarus served as a launch pad for Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has since deepened its military alliance with Moscow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Life sentence for Magdeburg attacker<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Inside Ukraine\u2019s campaign to turn Russian-occupied Crimea into an &#8216;island&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  \u2018If Ukraine burns, so will Moscow,\u2019 Zelenskyy says after refinery fire<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Crimea<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  War in Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905285-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905285\" data-cid=\"9815459\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905285-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_6855d240-444c-51af-87d8-c0511a5bd4b5-9815450.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ap\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rubio announces Israel-Lebanon framework deal as first step<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905276-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905276\" data-cid=\"9815416\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905276-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_ac271a30-bcd1-5bf6-a72f-866df0bb4f0f-9815416.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"AP Photo\/Michael Probst\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump threatens 100% tariffs over EU digital tax<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905214-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905214\" data-cid=\"9815478\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905214-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/51\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_12a5f0c1-f956-53f0-9957-999e7fd9a24b-9815116.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Workers clear rubble from a collapsed building in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday 25 June 2026, a day after the twin earthquakes.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    920 dead and 3,360 injured: new toll in Venezuela<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905260-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905260\" data-cid=\"9815411\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905260-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/56\/45\/320x180_cmsv2_72e53eb0-a2fa-5e32-8cf5-87043813047e-9805645.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran denies direct US hotline as Trump warns of ceasefire violations<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905017-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905017\" data-cid=\"9814097\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905017-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/40\/97\/320x180_cmsv2_c495fb52-8864-5c08-af84-31c3aa512460-9814097.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"David Lammy, UK Deputy Prime Minister &amp; Maria Tadeo, Euronews\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK foreign policy will not change after government transition &#8211; Lammy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904793-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904793\" data-cid=\"9812860\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    North Korean soldier crosses demilitarised zone into South Korea<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904505-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904505\" data-cid=\"9811457\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div 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class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905285-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905285\" data-cid=\"9815459\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905285-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_6855d240-444c-51af-87d8-c0511a5bd4b5-9815450.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ap\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rubio announces Israel-Lebanon framework deal as first step<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905276-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905276\" data-cid=\"9815416\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905276-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/54\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_ac271a30-bcd1-5bf6-a72f-866df0bb4f0f-9815416.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"AP Photo\/Michael Probst\" 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the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905017\" data-cid=\"9814097\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905017-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/40\/97\/320x180_cmsv2_c495fb52-8864-5c08-af84-31c3aa512460-9814097.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"David Lammy, UK Deputy Prime Minister &amp; Maria Tadeo, Euronews\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK foreign policy will not change after government transition &#8211; Lammy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904793-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904793\" data-cid=\"9812860\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    North Korean soldier crosses demilitarised zone into South Korea<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904505-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904505\" data-cid=\"9811457\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Cate Blanchett launches free tool to protect identity from AI<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904959-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904959\" data-cid=\"9813834\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European cities require nearly 19 years of income to buy a home?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904993-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904993\" data-cid=\"9813977\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Projectile hits cargo ship in Hormuz as Iran issues renewed warning<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905114-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905114\" data-cid=\"9814491\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU ban on Russian combatants faces resistance from France and Italy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he approved a plan for Ukraine\u2019s State Security Service (SBU) to launch a 40-day operation aimed at pressuring Russia to end the war.\u00a0Zelenskyy\u2019s announcement comes after his meeting with SBU chief Major General Yevhenii Khmara, who reported on\u00a0Kyiv\u2019s \u201cplan for long-range sanctions, medium-range sanctions, and the results achieved by the SBU,&#8221; Zelenskyy said on X. \u00a0\u201cFor several months in a row, the SBU has demonstrated the highest performance in defending Ukraine\u2019s positions on the front lines through the use of various types of drones,\u201d Zelensky said on Thursday evening.\u00a0Following his statement, Moscow-installed occupation authorities in Crimea announced a regional state of emergency on Friday.What is this operation about?\u00a0With all of Ukraine\u2019s military planning remaining strictly confidential, Zelenskyy did not provide additional details on what this operation would entail.\u00a0He did praise the SBU for its recent success in &#8220;hitting personnel and equipment of the occupying forces.\u201dMentioning the mid- and long-range \u201csanction\u201d \u2014 a term used by Kyiv to describe its drone strikes into Russia and Moscow-occupied territories \u2014 also reads as a hint for what is coming.Over the past several weeks, Ukrainian forces have dealt a series of blows to Russia&#8217;s logistics, energy infrastructure, and sense of \u201csafety of deep rear\u201d by launching strikes\u00a0against Crimea\u00a0and Moscow.Crimea and Moscow likely to remain priority\u00a0Back-to-back drone strikes on the Russian capital \u2014 the most protected part of the country \u2014 shut down the Moscow Oil Refinery, worsening a fuel crisis across the country and bringing the war home to the Russian population, who have been living in relative peace for over four years of Moscow\u2019s all-out invasion of Ukraine.\u00a0Right after the announcement on Thursday evening, Moscow authorities reported about dozens of drones launched by Kyiv towards the Russian capital.\u00a0Over the past few days, Ukraine\u2019s military intelligence also reported that Ukraine\u2019s long-range strike campaign forced Russia to redeploy air defence systems to protect what seems to be the prioritised sites: Moscow and the illegally built Kerch Bridge, weakening coverage in other Russian regions and occupied territories.\u00a0\u201dIn practice, these are the two areas the Russians have been ordered to defend at the expense of weakening other sectors of their territory and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,&#8221; Zelenskyy said.\u00a0&#8216;Hell is beginning&#8217; for Russian troops in Crimea, Kyiv said\u00a0The regional state of emergency in occupied Crimea came a just days after Ukrainian forces hit a railway bridge across the North Crimean Canal, fuel facilities, and military infrastructure across occupied Crimea.Widespread power outages in Crimea have left approximately half of the peninsula without electricity.Ukraine\u2019s mid-strike campaign \u2014 which generally includes attacks within 20 to 200km \u2014 has already choked the logistics in Russia-occupied Crimea, cutting off Moscow\u2019s supply routes for its troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine.\u00a0Kyiv plans to fully isolate the peninsula, cutting it off from Moscow while destroying critical infrastructure \u2014 ultimately putting Russian troops there under siege.\u00a0&#8220;Hell is beginning,&#8221; Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on 17 June. &#8220;Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated.&#8221;Kyiv\u2019s campaign is already in full force on the annexed peninsula. Crimea is experiencing severe fuel shortages, with many Russian tourists heading home in panic.\u00a0Belarus factor\u00a0Zelenskyy also issued yet another warning to Belarus over Minsk&#8217;s &#8220;potential expansion of aggression&#8221; against Ukraine, saying that the placement of military infrastructure along the Belarus-Ukraine border was nearly done.&#8221;The construction of road infrastructure and storage bases for ammunition and fuel and lubricants is nearing completion,&#8221; Zelenskyy said after receiving a briefing from\u00a0Ukraine&#8217;s Foreign Intelligence Service.&#8221;These facilities have no purpose other than a military one.\u201dOn Monday, Belarus&#8217; exiled opposition handed Kyiv a list of warning signs that Minsk soon plans to enter Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine, outlining how Aliaksandr Lukashenka is shifting his policies towards a wartime posture.The latest warning from Zelenskyy comes a day after Lukashenka appeared to accept Kyiv\u2019s ultimatum\u00a0to remove communications equipment on Belarus territory that Ukraine says was helping support Russian drone strikes.Kyiv warned that Belarus would face unspecified action from Ukraine if the equipment was not removed.Over the past several months, Ukraine has been sounding an alarm that Moscow, Minsk&#8217;s closest ally, may be attempting to draw Belarus deeper into its confrontation with Kyiv in an attempt to aid in the Kremlin&#8217;s war effort.Belarus served as a launch pad for Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has since deepened its military alliance with Moscow.\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/06\/26\/ukraine-launches-40-day-operation-to-pressure-russia-to-end-the-war&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/46\/23\/1200x675_cmsv2_6616c891-00ba-579d-a005-2ff7eb9ddde7-9814623.jpg&#8221;] World News Iran denies direct US hotline as Trump warns of ceasefire violations World News 920 dead and 3,360 injured: new toll in Venezuela Lebanon Rubio announces Israel-Lebanon framework deal as first step Earth News Wild boar stealing food from bathers again on Portuguese beaches World News Iran denies direct US hotline [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2013127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2013127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013127\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2013127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2013127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2013127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}