New developments are taking place in frontline areas in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed over the weekend that a large-scale counter-offensive had begun.
Ukraine takes back the villages?
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Facebook on June 12 that it had engaged in 25 battles in the past 24 hours. The ministry said Russian forces focused their unsuccessful attacks on the towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinka, all in Donetsk Oblast. In Bakhmut alone, Ukraine said the Russian side had suffered heavy losses in the past week. Moscow has not commented on this information.
Quick Look: Day 473 of Operation, Ukraine Says It Recaptured 4 Villages; Russian Warships Attacked Again
Yesterday morning, the Ukrainian army announced the recapture of Storozheve village in Donetsk province, one day after retaking control of three other villages in the province, including Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Image of destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicles in Donetsk in video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on June 10
Ukraine's General Staff did not comment on the counter-offensive but said Russia was on the defensive in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, which are believed to be one of Kyiv's main counter-offensive directions.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW, USA) assessed that Ukraine has made clear progress in the western region of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Russia is transferring the most combat-ready units from Kherson province to Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia has not immediately commented on Ukraine’s gains, which observers say were moderate. However, Russian officials and media have sought to portray the Ukrainian counteroffensive as a failure, publishing images showing the destruction of German and American heavy armor.
Ukraine says it retakes control of four villages in counter-offensive
Weather factors
On the other hand, the weather situation in Zaporizhzhia province could be a factor hindering Ukraine's progress in the coming days. The Drive quoted Russian official Vladimir Rogov in this province as saying that heavy rains in recent days have made the terrain muddy, making it difficult for Ukraine's heavy Western armor such as AMX-10RC, Leopard-2 tanks, and even Soviet-era T-72 tanks.
North Korea announces enhanced strategic cooperation with Russia
On the occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation (June 12), leader Kim Jong-un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea sent a congratulatory message to President Vladimir Putin.
In it, Mr. Kim said that the Russian people's struggle against the ever-escalating threats and challenges of hostile forces seeking to deprive Russia of its sovereignty, security and peace has entered a new, important stage.
Kim said North Korea fully supports and stands in solidarity with the Russian people in their struggle to safeguard their sovereignty , development and national interests, KCNA news agency reported. The leader said the friendly relations between the two countries are a "valuable strategic asset" and affirmed his readiness to strengthen strategic cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Amid the tense fighting, a new prisoner exchange was carried out by both sides, with Russia announcing it had received 94 soldiers while Ukraine received 95. In addition, rescue work is still ongoing in the southern Kherson province after the Nova Kakhovka dam collapsed. As of the end of June 11, Russian officials announced that they had evacuated 7,100 people while Ukraine evacuated 4,000. President Zelensky said that representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had arrived in Kherson at Ukraine's request to investigate the cause of the dam collapse. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam to create a flood to hinder the counterattack while Moscow said Kyiv had shelled the dam.
Germany investigates possible Polish involvement in Nord Stream pipeline explosion
Reuters yesterday quoted Ukraine's Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets as saying that the water level in the reservoirs used to cool the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remained full and stable, although the water level in the nearby Kakhovka reservoir was falling. Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and is controlled by Russia. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi is expected to visit the facility this week due to the risks from the dam collapse. The plant's reservoirs, which are separate from Kakhovka Lake, can be filled with well water and the rate of evaporation is slow because the reactors are not producing electricity.
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