On the night of June 13, 2025, Israel launched a series of strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities, causing a sharp escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The operation was aimed at preventing the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. According to Israeli authorities, the attacks targeted key facilities, including the Natanz nuclear center, as well as military bases and surface-to-surface missile depots. As a result, according to Iranian media reports, at least 60 people were killed, including high-ranking military officials such as the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Hossein Salami. Iran responded by launching about 100 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, causing casualties and destruction, including a strike on residential areas of Tel Aviv.

In an interview with the American television channel Newsmax, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern that the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran could negatively affect the situation in Ukraine.

"The strikes have already led to a sharp increase in the price of oil. For Ukraine, this is negative, because Russia is growing stronger due to large revenues from oil exports. This factor certainly does not help us," Zelensky stressed.

Brent crude futures have risen more than 5% to $74,47 a barrel since the Israeli attacks, and at times as much as 9%, the biggest jump in years, according to global exchanges. That could significantly boost revenues for Russia, which continues to finance its actions against Ukraine through energy exports.

Zelensky also noted the risk of a reduction in Western aid to Kyiv

"The Iran-Israel conflict could distract our partners. European support for Ukraine is already slowing without active US involvement," - he said.

As tensions in the Middle East escalate, the United States has sent additional military resources, including destroyers, to support Israel, which could limit resources available to help Ukraine.