War continues to escalate in Ukraine

Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine on Monday morning, warning of a possible Russian missile and drone attack. Groups on the Telegram app reported explosions from the western Lviv province to southern Kherson, Reuters reported, in what appeared to be a bid to weaken Kyiv’s ability to fight back, which the West says is progressing more slowly than expected.

Quick Look: Day 484 of the Campaign, Ukraine Changes Its Counterattack; How Has Russia Adapted?

Tense war

The Guardian reported that the Ukrainian Air Force shot down 13 Russian cruise missiles aimed at a military airport in the western Khmelnitskyi region on June 23. Khmelnitskyi Governor Serhiy Tyurin said the attack on Viysk airport was launched from several Tupolev Tu-95 bombers over the Caspian Sea. On the front line, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukrainian forces had thwarted Russian attacks in the direction of the two eastern towns of Kupiansk (Kharkiv region) and Lyman (Donetsk region).

Chiến sự tiếp tục căng thẳng tại Ukraine - Ảnh 1. — Ukrainian soldiers fire a 120 mm mortar in Donetsk on June 21.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry released images of what is believed to be its Lancet suicide UAV attacking a Ukrainian T-64M Bulat tank in the Donetsk region, according to Sputnik on June 23. This UAV has a range of 40-70 km and a payload of 3-5 kg, with the ability to attack ground and air targets like enemy UAVs. In another development, TASS quoted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying that on average, about 1,336 people sign contracts to serve in the Russian armed forces every day. In addition, Russia is actively strengthening its equipment and reserve personnel, of which 114,000 have joined under contract and 52,000 are volunteers.

Ukrainian President Says Counteroffensive Progress Slower Than Expected, Not 'Hollywood Movie'

Ukraine and Russia have not commented on each other's information.

Evaluating Ukraine's counteroffensive

According to Deputy Minister Maliar, Ukraine's military operation in the south is going according to plan and its forces are advancing, even as they are held back by minefields. "There is no need to expect the counteroffensive to progress very quickly. We are advancing every day. Although it is gradual, our forces are gaining ground on the border and are advancing steadily," she said.

Earlier on June 23, CNN quoted a number of Western officials as saying that in the initial phase, Ukraine's counterattack was less successful, and that Russia showed more capabilities than Western assessments. Accordingly, Russia had a very solid defense line and made good use of mines, missiles and air power, while adverse weather also hindered Ukraine's progress. However, they noted that Ukrainian forces gradually adapted to Russia's defense tactics, targeting Russian aircraft more effectively.

President Putin: Ukrainian army knows it has no chance against Russia

The Pentagon website on June 23 quoted Ms. Laura Cooper, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, as saying that Ukraine was well prepared and equipped. "Although the course of the war is fierce and unpredictable, we are confident in the training and readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces," she said, emphasizing the importance of security aid that the US and its allies and partners have provided to Ukraine.

Efforts to negotiate peace on Ukraine

Nikkei Asia reported on June 23 that senior security officials from the United States, China, Japan, India and Ukraine will soon meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. Officials from other countries, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey, are also considering the possibility of joining peace talks in Ukraine. TASS on June 22 quoted Russian Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev as saying that he had not received any proposals from African parliamentarians to hold peace talks with Ukrainian lawmakers, but was ready to discuss specific ideas. The South African parliament had previously expressed its readiness to hold such talks.

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