While faster than before, Russia’s territorial gains remain minor, with only 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of Ukraine taken since the start of last year, less than 1% of the country’s overall territory, according to a June report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

A former Ukrainian prisoner of war, Stanislav Tarnavskyi, has embraced life with urgency since his release in April.

NATO aircraft were scrambled Sunday night to respond to a Russian attack on Ukraine, the Polish military said Monday.

Polish and allied NATO aircraft were scrambled in response to a large Russian drone and missile attack launched into Ukraine on Sunday night, the Polish military's Operational Command said in a statement.

Ukraine has relied on this innovative tactic to wreak havoc on Russia's Black Sea fleet, damaging or destroying a number of warships.

A cyber attack on Russia's largest airline on Monday saw dozens of canceled flights after a pro-Ukraine team took responsibility for hacking airline computer systems.

Another 555 people were freed separately from prisoner exchanges with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky added.