Ukraine loses control of Azov Sea with Russia's opening of Kerch Bridge in 2018

Veronika Melkozerova's scoop was definitely a front-page story, but it's tucked inside a blockbuster edition of the Kyiv Post on June 15, 2018.

This is Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner’s summary of the blockbuster June 15, 2018, edition, which can be read here in PDF format.

An amazing edition hits the streets tomorrow. We preview the Kyiv Post conference on Monday, June 18 - "Bringing Peace to Syria & Ukraine" - with 14 great speakers, a mix of Syrian, Ukrainian and international experts.

The cover goes to the rising concern over the health of Oleg Sentsov, in his 32nd day of a hunger strike in a Russian prison, and the fate of 70 other Ukrainian political prisoners held by the Kremlin. Sentsov's crime: Opposing Russia's illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. He is demanding the release of all Ukrainian prisoners. As Russia hosts the World Cup games, the hope is that Russian President Vladimir Putin -- not known for his humanity -- will pardon the Ukrainians, including Sentsov, before it's too late.

But that is not all.

Russia is trying to choke off Ukraine's trade in the Azov Sea through the narrow Kerch Strait. If they succeed, the consequences to Ukraine's economy will be severe.

We examine why the anti-corruption court legislation passed by parliament may be fatally flawed and how it could exonerate officials accused of corruption.

Honest History looks at the long attempts by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be truly independent of Moscow. Already, since Russia's war on Ukraine, many Ukrainian Orthodox Christians have severed their ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, subservient to the Kremlin.

We've got much, much more ahead.

Best summer wishes from the entire Kyiv Post team.