Ukraine Daily

Monday, 6 June 2022

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ihor meets Lyudmyla who has returned home from Poland after fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine, on a platform at the Kyiv train station on April 17. (Getty Images)

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Zelensky visits Ukraine’s frontline positions in Soledar, Lysychansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited two cities near the frontline of battles against the Russian army after meeting troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. “I went with the head of [my] office to the east. We were in Lysychansk and Soledar,” Zelensky said in his nightly address. “I am proud of everybody I met, everyone I shook hands with, everyone with whom I connected with and had expressed my support.” The city of Soledar is in Donetsk Oblast and Lysychansk is in the Luhansk region.

Putin threatens to attack locations that haven’t been hit yet if Ukraine gets long-range missiles. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said on TV that if Ukraine is supplied with long-range missiles Russia will “draw conclusions” and will use its means of destruction on those targets that have not been hit yet.

Air Force: Russia launched several missiles toward Kyiv from Caspian Sea. Ukraine’s Air Force said its servicemen had been notified and downed one cruise missile. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko earlier reported that one person had been injured by a missile attack that hit infrastructure in the capital on the morning of June 5.

Energoatom: Russian cruise missile flew ‘critically low’ over nuclear power plant. Calling the June 5 early morning missile attack “another act of nuclear terrorism,” Ukraine’s state-run nuclear company Energoatom said a Russian missile, similar to a Kalibr-type missile, flew just over the nuclear power plant in Mykolaiv Oblast, likely on its way to Kyiv. Even the smallest fragment of a rocket could cause a nuclear catastrophe, the company said.

Institute for the Study of War: Ukraine’s ability to attack Russian troops in Sievierodonetsk suggests Moscow’s declining combat power. The Washington-based think tank said in an update on June 5, that Ukrainian forces continued to conduct limited and localized but successful counterattacks against Russian positions throughout Ukraine, including retaking large areas of Luhansk Oblast’s Sievierodonetsk where Russia has concentrated the majority of its forces**.** The institute predicts that Ukrainian counteroffensive pressure will likely continue to draw the attention of Russian forces to Luhansk Oblast, leaving Russian defensive efforts vulnerable in Kharkiv Oblast and along the southern front lines.

Ukrzaliznytsia confirms that four Russian missiles hit repair plant in Kyiv, rejects Russia’s claim that plant stored tanks, military vehicles. “This plant repaired gondola cars and grain trucks, which we use for export. (Russia’s) real target is Ukraine’s economy and the civilian population,” said CEO of Ukraine’s railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia Oleksandr Kamyshin. One plant worker was injured as a result of the attack.

Authorities in Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast, secretly evacuate 66 people, including six children. According to Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai, the evacuation wasn’t announced, but members of the military, police, and emergency services went to multiple bomb shelters, persuading people to leave. Last week, the evacuation had to stop after Russians fired at an evacuation vehicle, killing a French journalist.

Russia’s proxies in Donetsk Oblast say they may kill three kidnapped foreigners. The proxies claimed that they have completed a “criminal investigation” against the captured foreigners, British citizens Sean Pinner and Andrew Hill, as well as a citizen of the Kingdom of Morocco, Saadoun Brahim. They said that the foreigners may face the death penalty for fighting with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the “first court hearing” will take place soon.

Almost 60% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast occupied by Russian troops. Governor Oleksandr Starukh told President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the region on June 5 that fighting is ongoing in some areas of the oblast. According to Starukh, Russian forces have destroyed 2,701 infrastructure sites in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and almost 700 of them have already been restored. Also, 77 towns and villages in Zaporizhzhia Oblast remain cut off from electricity due to the fighting.

Luhansk Oblast Governor: Ukraine can push Russians out of Sievierodonetsk. However, another city in Luhansk Oblast, Lysychansk, is more strategically important than Sievierodonetsk due to its location, Governor Serhiy Haidai told Suspilne. Heavy fighting continues in Sievierodonetsk, with the Russian military controlling roughly half of the city.

Russian forces destroy or damage at least 43 religious sites in Donetsk Oblast. “This is purposeful destruction of all manifestations of Ukrainian culture,” said Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Most of sites belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that’s under the Moscow Patriarchate.

Deputy defense minister: Kyiv remains Kremlin’s key target. According to Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, the war is still in its hot phase and capturing Kyiv is still Russia’s main goal.

Joint Forces Operation: Ukraine repels 56 Russian attacks in Donbas during past week. According to Ukraine’s Joint Forces Operation on June 5 alone Ukrainian troops repelled 7 Russian attacks in Donbas. Fighting is ongoing in two areas. On June 5, Russian troops shelled 20 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, killing 7 civilians, damaging and destroying 41 civilian sites.

People in Russian-occupied Mariupol experience severe water shortages. According to Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the Mariupol mayor, people have to sign up to collect water, with wait times about two days. Andriushchenko said in order to receive food, Mariupol residents are forced to patrol the city and work with the Russian forces.

The human cost of Russia’s war

Ukraine’s General Staff confirms Russian Major General’s death in Luhansk region. Another high ranking member of the Russian military has been killed, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 5. Major General Roman Kutuzov died in Mykolaivka village near Popasna, a key strategic location along the front line in Luhansk Oblast.

Body of another civilian killed by Russians found in Kyiv Oblast. Police have found the body of a 41-year-old civilian man in the woods near Vyshehrad village, in the area where Russian troops were based during their month-long occupation of Kyiv Oblast. According to preliminary findings, Russian soldiers shot him in the head. Before, police said that the bodies of 1,314 civilians had been found in Kyiv Oblast.

General Staff: Russia has lost 31,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 5 that Russia had also lost 1,381 tanks, 3,392 armored personnel carriers, 2,360 vehicles and fuel tanks, 686 artillery pieces, 207 multiple launch rocket systems, 95 anti-aircraft warfare, 175 helicopters, 210 airplanes, 548 drones, and 13 boats.

Russia kills 3 civilians in Donetsk Oblast on June 5. Two more people were injured, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

International response

Pope calls for peace talks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. “Let the real discussions begin, concrete negotiations for a ceasefire and for a sustainable solution,” he said during his Sunday address on June 5. “May respect for human life prevail; may the macabre destruction of cities and villages stop.”

The Independent: UK to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles after Russia strikes Kyiv. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace made the announcement that the U.K. will send an unspecified number of M270 launchers, capable of firing rockets up to 80 kilometers, making it the longest reaching weapon at Ukraine’s disposal. The decision was made after Kyiv was struck on June 5 for the first time since April.

El Pais: Spain ready to supply Ukraine with Leopard tanks, air defense systems. Spanish media outlet El Pais reported, citing government sources, that the delivery of heavy weapons is currently being prepared.

Lavrov cancels Serbia visit as neighboring countries close airspace. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov could not make the trip to Serbia as North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Montenegro closed their airspace to Russian flights. Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that NATO and European Union nations bordering Serbia banned Lavrov’s flight to Belgrade.

In other news

Two Ukrainian women killed in railway accident in Germany. At least five people were killed and dozens injured as a result of a train derailment near the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 3. According to German newspaper Bild, two women were refugees from Ukraine who were staying with host families in the region. One woman reportedly had a child, who was also injured in the accident and is now in the hospital.

Ukraine’s national football team defeated by Wales, loses World Cup berth. Ukraine’s national football team lost 0-1 to Wales in the second round of European qualifiers on June 5 in Cardiff. Ukraine was one step away from the 2022 World Cup tournament in Qatar after beating Scotland earlier on June 1. Ukraine has only played in the World Cup once, in 2006, reaching the quarterfinals.

Ukraine to resume professional football competitions in August. President of Ukraine’s Football Federation Andriy Pavelko said that he was in talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of FIFA and UEFA about it. “We spoke about how football has a very big power to help people think about the future,” Pavelko told AP.

Ukrainian MP detained in Moldova at Belarus request. Moldova border guards have detained Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Yakovenko who has been put on the Interpol wanted list by Belarus, Deschide news site reported on June 5. Belarus authorities accuse Yakovenko of “bribery and corruption” and have requested his extradition. Yakovenko was elected in 2019 as a representative of the Batkivshchyna party in Donetsk Oblast. He is currently nonpartisan.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Asami Terajima, Anastasiia Lapatina, Daria Shulzhenko, Olga Rudenko, Toma Istomina, Brad LaFoy, Olena Goncharova, and Sergiy Slipchenko.

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