Fierce fighting
The Kyiv Independent on June 10 quoted Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military, as saying that the forces had advanced 1.4 km in the past day in different areas near the city of Bakhmut. He also said that hundreds of Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded in the local Ukrainian counterattack there.
Images of the battle in Bakhmut on June 9
Russia and Ukraine both reported heavy fighting in Ukraine on June 9, with bloggers describing the first sighting of German and US armor on the battlefield, signaling that a long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive is underway, according to Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin "confirmed that this offensive has begun," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not reveal much information about the military operation, other than saying that he had discussed tactics and "achievements" with military leaders.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksander Musiyenko said Ukraine was making progress, but he dismissed Russian reports of a major counter-offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The latest intelligence update from the UK Ministry of Defence on Twitter shows that in the past 48 hours, there has been a lot of Ukrainian activity in many areas of eastern and southern Ukraine.
The UK Ministry of Defence added that Ukrainian forces “may have made good progress” and “have penetrated the first line of Russian defence”. However, in other areas, Ukraine’s progress has been slower.
Meanwhile, on the Russian side, some units were assessed as “capable of conducting reliable mobile defense operations” while others retreated in disarray, even retreating through their own minefields.
Russia has not commented on this information.
Missile intercepted in Crimea
Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed leader of Crimea, announced on June 10 that Russian air defense forces had shot down two Grom-2 ballistic missiles over the peninsula during the day. The missiles were launched by Kyiv forces, Aksyonov said, adding that the incident did not cause any casualties or damage. Ukraine has not commented on the information.
In the southern Ukrainian province of Odessa, an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the early morning of June 10 killed three people and injured at least 10 others, The Guardian reported, citing a statement from the Southern Ukrainian Command.
Scene of the attack in Odessa early on June 10
Debris from the attack fell on a high-rise apartment block, causing a fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and 12 people were rescued from the building. Emergency services said 27 people, including three children, were injured.
In Poltava province, Russian attacks damaged the Myrhorod military airport.
Canadian Prime Minister arrives in Kyiv
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv on June 10
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on June 10 on a surprise visit.
Images show Prime Minister Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland meeting Ukrainian soldiers and laying wreaths at a memorial in central Kyiv.
The Globe and Mail reported that the visit will last only one day. Prime Minister Trudeau will meet with President Zelensky and discuss support for Kyiv and Canada's role in rebuilding Ukraine.
This is Prime Minister Trudeau's second visit to Kyiv since the conflict began. Canada has one of the largest Ukrainian diaspora communities in the world. The NATO country has provided military and financial aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia since February 2022.
Some more photos of Prime Minister Trudeau's visit
Water withdrawal at Kherson
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed governor of Kherson region, said on June 10 that the water level in Nova Kakhovka, the town adjacent to the recently broken Nova Kakhovka dam, had dropped 3 meters from its peak on June 6.
He said workers were pumping water and clearing streets. So far, more than 6,000 people have been evacuated from flooded areas in Nova Kakhovka and Oeshky, Hola Prystan.
Russian hydropower company RusHydro estimates that the water level of the Dnipro River in the area will return to normal by June 16.
In an announcement on Russian television on June 10, Mr. Saldo said that President Putin was monitoring the situation in Kherson after the dam burst and was calling regularly to check in. President Putin also ordered to collect full information about the flood situation and requested to provide all necessary assistance to the people, including rebuilding damaged houses.
Volunteers distribute food and water to people in Kherson on June 9.
German Chancellor says preparing for phone call with Russian President
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on June 10 that he plans to soon call Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge the leader to withdraw troops from Ukraine.
Speaking at a conference in the city of Nuremberg, Chancellor Scholz said he had spoken to President Putin by phone and "intended to call again soon," according to Reuters.
Mr Scholz said it was unreasonable to force Ukraine to accept Russia's "offensive" and let "some parts of Ukraine become Russian". The leader said he would ensure that NATO was not drawn into the war.
NATO reassures Ukraine
In an interview published by Politico on June 9, US Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Julianne Smith said Western allies are unlikely to invite Ukraine to join the alliance amid the war, but are still negotiating to demonstrate a long-term commitment to Kyiv.
US monitors Russia's deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on June 9 that Washington did not see any signs that Russia was preparing to use nuclear weapons, but would monitor preparations in Belarus to receive nuclear weapons from Russia, according to RT.
Mr Kirby had a similar reaction in late March, when Russia first announced it would station some of its nuclear weapons in Belarus, in response to Britain sending depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.
"Everything is going according to plan," President Putin told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on June 9, adding that by the end of the first week of July, "the preparation of relevant facilities will be completed."
Source link
Comment (0)