Tueday, June 6

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A view from the area as rescuers work at the site after a Russian rocket hitting a road in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine on June 6, 2023. On the night of June 5th-6th, Russian troops fired another missile in the city of Kharkiv. As a result of the incident, no one was injured. (Photo by Sofiia Bobok/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Ukrainian military: Russian forces blow up Kakhovka dam. Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported early on June 6 that Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. “The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified,” the military said on their official Facebook page.

Air Force: 35 cruise missiles shot down overnight in Ukraine.  Russia launched 35 cruise missiles in a night attack against Ukraine on June 6, all of which were shot down by air defense, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

Defense Ministry: Ukrainian forces advance on eastern front.

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations along the eastern front and made several advances in certain areas on June 5, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported.

Russian forces **attack Kharkiv. ** Russian forces launched several rockets into Kharkiv around midnight on June 5, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on Telegram.

Over 30% of checked bomb shelters in Ukraine not ready to receive people.  Out of 50,195 bomb shelters checked by the authorities by June 5, up to one-third are closed or unsuitable for use, the Interior Ministry announced. The National Police, the State Emergency Service, and the local authorities have already examined 79% of all shelters in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military intelligence responds to reports on pro-Ukrainian militia using Western-made weapons in Russia.  In a comment for Suspilne news outlet, Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov responded to reports on the alleged use of Western-made weapons by Russian anti-Kremlin militia fighting on Ukraine’s side. He said such questions should be addressed to the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion as they “operate autonomously” on Russian territory.

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Mayor: Russia brings spy squads into occupied Melitopol.  Spy squads from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) have arrived in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast to search for pro-Ukrainian residents, exiled Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported on June 5.

ISW: Chechen leader Kadyrov claims readiness to defend Belgorod Oblast against raids.  Chechen Republoic Head Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Chechen forces are fully prepared to protect against potential raids in Belgorod Oblast, possibly as a means to keep his troops out of active combat in Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War latest assessment.

Media: Russia buying back weapon parts exported to India, Myanmar.  Russia may be “buying back” military equipment previously shipped to India and Myanmar, the Japanese news outlet Nikkei reported on June 5.

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Ukraine war latest: Kyiv says it’s shifting to offensive actions in Donetsk Oblast

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have defeated a large-scale Ukrainian attack in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of June 5 in the first announcement of what could be the start of the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Photo: Sergey Shestak/AFP via Getty Images

Russia reports Ukrainian ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast in possible launch of counteroffensive

The south has long been built up as the most obvious direction for an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Attention was mostly given to a possible southward push from Zaporizhzhia to the occupied city of Melitopol.

Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Human cost of war

UN: 8,983 confirmed civilian deaths due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.  The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) confirmed on June 5 that at least 8,983 civilians died, and 15,442 were injured in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prosecutor General: Russia has killed 485 Ukrainian children since start of all-out war.  Four hundred eighty-five Ukrainian children have been killed since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on June 5.

Russian forces kill 1 in Kherson Oblast. Russian forces bombed residential buildings in Kozatske, Kherson Oblast, killing a woman, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on June 5.

Intelligence: Senior Russian officer killed in Belgorod Oblast. Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that a senior Russian officer was killed in Belgorod Oblast on June 5. The 52-year-old Colonel Andrei Vasilyevich Stesyev was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka.

Russian forces attack Kharkiv Oblast**, kill 1, injure 8. ** Russia attacks Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast, killing at least one and injuring eight people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 5.

Russian forces launch guided bombs at Toretsk city center, injuring 6 people.  Six people were injured on June 5 after Russia launched guided bombs at the city center of Toretsk, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported.

International response

US to provide Ukraine with $37 million in cybersecurity assistance.The U.S. government is working with Congress to deliver $37 million in cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced on June 5.

Media: European Commission to ease restrictions on agricultural imports **from Ukraine.**The European Commission is set to extend the ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine, but the restrictions will apply to a smaller number of products, European Pravda reported on June 5 with reference to its sources.

PM: Belgium investigating alleged use of its weapons in Russia. Belgium will ask Kyiv for clarifications on reports that Russian anti-Kremlin militias had allegedly used Belgian-made weapons provided to Ukraine during the Belgorod incursion, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, as reported by Reuters on June 5.

Pistorius: Germany will not send Taurus missiles but reconsidering fighter jets for Ukraine.  Germany does not plan to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles but “may reconsider its position” on providing modern Western fighter jets, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Deutsche Welle on June 5.

US sanctions Russian intelligence-linked influence actors destabilizing Moldova. 

The U.S. Treasury announced on June 5 that it had sanctioned seven leading members of a group affiliated with Russian intelligence for their involvement in Russia’s destabilization campaign targeting Moldova.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Teah Pelechaty, Kate Tsurkan, Dinara Khalilova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Martin Fornusek, Brad LaFoy, and Olena Goncharova.

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