Ukrainian soldiers fire mortars towards Russian-controlled Donetsk
Two fronts in the south
The Ukrainian army announced that it had won two areas in the south. "In the direction of Novodanylivka - Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka - Novofedorivka, the Ukrainian army has achieved partial victory and is holding out on the newly won fronts," CNN quoted Andriy Kovalov, spokesman for the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as saying.
Mr Kovalov said Ukrainian units continued counterattacks towards the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol and the port of Berdiansk.
Quick view: What hot developments happened in the Russian military campaign in Ukraine on day 484?
In the east, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar updated on her Telegram account that the Ukrainian army had stopped the Russian advance towards the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman.
However, she acknowledged that Russia still controlled large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, and that Ukrainian forces had not yet been able to advance to the area where Russia's main defense lines were located.
Still, she warned that a major Ukrainian counteroffensive was still ahead, as Russia continued to reinforce along its defensive lines in the east and south.
On the same day, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had shot down 13 Russian missiles heading towards a military airport in western Ukraine. "All 13 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles were destroyed by air defense systems, most of them in the Khmelnytskyi region," according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russia has not commented on the reports, but has previously denied any progress on Ukraine's side.
According to TASS news agency, Ukrainian forces fired 33 artillery rounds at the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) separatist region, causing civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Ukraine said there were casualties in Kherson province due to attacks from Russia.
Russia takes control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Kremlin dismisses warnings about nuclear power plant
In Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces controlling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were planning a "terrorist attack" by staging a nuclear leak at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
Russia denies considering attack on Ukraine nuclear power plant
The Kremlin denied the allegations. However, in response to Mr Zelensky’s warning, many Ukrainians sought to stock up on iodine, causing demand for the drug to skyrocket.
In another development, Interfax quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as emphasizing that Moscow will not disclose any details about the nuclear weapons being deployed to Belarus.
Mr. Ryabkov also said that Russia has no plans to share information with the US about the tests of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater vehicle because this line of devices is not on any list under the existing US-Russia agreement, TASS reported.
A Turkish F-16 fighter jet participates in NATO air exercises.
Europe's largest air force exercise
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) today, June 23, concluded its largest air force exercise in Europe in a show of force to counter potential threats, according to AFP.
Russia says French president should not be invited to BRICS summit
The German-led exercise called "Air Guard 23" brought together some 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO members and partner countries, including Japan and Sweden.
The exercise was conceived in 2018 as part of a response to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Although German Air Force Chief of Staff Ingo Gerhartz insisted the show of force was not aimed at any country, US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann called it a message to countries like Russia.
On the same day, the European Union (EU) agreed to impose the 11th round of sanctions against Russia, including an export ban on third parties that the EU said helped the Kremlin evade previous rounds of sanctions.
With the latest sanctions, the EU is taking action against tankers flying flags of other countries but helping to transport Russian crude to EU ports.
In addition, importers of iron and steel products into the EU market also face more stringent regulations regarding the origin of raw materials used before they are finished products.
Russian defense system is a challenge for Ukraine
The list of companies and organizations sanctioned by the EU has now been expanded to 87 names, which according to the EU directly support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, including those from China, Uzbekistan, the UAE, Syria and Armenia.
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