- The offensive of Ukrainian forces continues on the southeastern part of the front, as Ukrainian soldiers have made serious progress in some areas, and many Russian units had to be significantly withdrawn. According to the first reports, the Russian counterattack attempts also failed, and the fighting is already taking place near the third line, i.e. the last built Russian line of defense west of Voldar, but the Ukrainians have also had success around Orehive.
- According to American sources, the Ukrainians also suffer heavy losses during offensive operations in terms of Western armored personnel carriers. According to CNN’s summary, the Ukrainians have already lost 16 Bradley armored personnel carriers in recent days, nearly a tenth of the 109 Bradley armored personnel carriers delivered to Ukraine. Several Leopard 2 tanks were destroyed or abandoned by their operators after becoming immobilized – according to some sources, the Ukrainians lost 15 Leopards, according to others, three Leopards. In view of this, Ukraine orders more Panthers from Germany.
- At night, the Russians launched an “intensive” missile attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian missiles hit several civilian buildings in the city, including a five-story apartment building. According to the city’s mayor, people are likely trapped under the rubble, and according to the district governor, the authorities are currently aware of three dead and 25 injured.
- According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “heavy fighting continues,” but “we are moving forward, and this is very important.” The president spoke about the state of the attack in his usual nightly video message.
ергові ракети терористів, русский вбівці продуют свой вийну protivіх domіniх, объявление міste і. No good, zagible, є рахані. Рятувальна прация у Кривому rosі is underway. ої сочщуть исме, простравив нродних! Do not forgive terrorists, and for every … pic.twitter.com/0uxN8wyk8M
– Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) June 13, 2023
- On Monday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said it was too early to judge how the Ukrainian offensive would progress, but Washington is confident that the Ukrainians will be able to liberate important areas under Russian occupation, and the US government is determined to give Ukraine. Maximum support for this.
French President Emmanuel Macron also urged patience when he said the long-awaited Ukrainian offensive “could take weeks, perhaps months.” It is also important, he added, that this achieves as much success as possible, because then “we can start the negotiation phase on good terms.”
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres fears that Russia will withdraw from the agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports to the Black Sea on July 17 after the current agreement expires.
- According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a contract has been signed with the Chechen division Akhmat, led by Ramzan Kadyrov. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently issued an order requiring all “voluntary units” fighting in Ukraine, including various special forces, to sign contracts with the ministry, which would put those units under Moscow’s control in exchange for rights for their fighters similar to those enjoyed by the regular regime. Soldiers. The commander of the largest special force, the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin refused to sign the contract, stating that the Ministry of Defense “is not able to properly control military formations.” The case is another stage in the long-running struggle between Prigozhin and Shoigu.
