Ukraine has been taking a cautious and slow approach to their counteroffensive and have yet to commit the bulk of their forces. They are mainly conducting reconnaissance attacks looking for weak positions to focus the main attack which is yet to come. At the same time, Russia has been conducting a formidable defense. Russian forces fall back drawing Ukrainian forces forward. But before Ukraine can move forward their air defense systems, Russian air attacks commence and Russian forces counterattack forcing Ukrainian troops back at heavy losses. Russia is also effectively using their jamming technologies making it difficult for Ukrainian forces to communicate properly.
The greatest success of Ukrainian forces so far has been along the eastern side of the Zaporizhian Defense Line as it intersects with Donetsk region. Ukrainian forces are moving south along the Mokri Yaly River forcing Russia to blow up a strategic bridge. Four communities had already been liberated. Ukrainian forces liberated Urozhaine on Wednesday bringing the total liberated cities to five along the river. And if you add Novodarivka and Levadne to the west, seven have been liberated in the theater. Ukraine is preparing to enter heavily-mined Novopil and Rivnopil which Russian forces have likely abandoned.
Overall, Ukraine has regained control of over 38 square miles of territory (100 square kilometers) since the counteroffensive started nearly two weeks ago.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday as a show of Canada’s support and pledged an additional $375 million in military aid to Ukraine which includes military training, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 288 defense missiles, a Leopard 2 tank maintenance center in Poland, and pilot training for F-16 fighter jets.
NATO began its largest air deployment exercise in Europe in the alliance’s history on June 13 in a display of unity toward partners and potential threats such as Russia. Germany is leading the Air Defender 23 which will last until June 23. All 25 NATO countries, plus Japan and Sweden are participating in the exercise. This is the first time for the two of them, as well as Finland, to participate in a NATO exercise.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un sent a message of support to Russia on the UN National Day of Russian which was last Monday. Kim Jong Un did not mention Ukraine by name though, but he did offer Russia their full support.
Russia continued its nearly daily missile and drone attacks. On Monday, all attacks on Kyiv were neutralized, but a business and five-story apartment building were hit in President Zelensky’s home city of Kryvyi Rih resulting in civilian casualties. Eleven civilians were killed and another 28 injured in the attack. Civilian targets were also hit Kharkiv, but details of casualties were not released.
Then in the early morning on Wednesday, four missiles were fired at Odesa. Three were intercepted, but one hit a residential area killing three civilians and injuring thirteen. Russian forces shelled a timber mill in Sumy region killing seven workers later in the day.
On Thursday, three civilians were killed by missile attacks on Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka. A woman was also killed during shelling against Chernihiv.
The first Russian general was killed in 2023 during a Ukrainian missile strike on Monday of a command center in Henichesk. Major General Sergey Goryachev had recently been promoted as commander of the Russian 35th Army and became the sixth Russian Major General to be killed since the invasion. Major General is currently the third highest rank in the Russian military.
Over one hundred Russian soldiers were killed by a Ukrainian HIMARS attack on Kreminna where they had gathered and were waiting for an address by the commander who was late. The soldiers had been waiting for two hours already when Ukraine struck.