Ukraine counter-attacks amid Russia’s advance

As of yesterday (June 6), the Russian-Ukrainian war has completed 100 days, with fighting continuing in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense estimates that Russia is controlling more than 90% of Luhansk province in the Donbass, according to Reuters.

“Systematic” counterattack

Meanwhile, Ukrainian army On June 3, it announced that its forces had repelled at least five attacks by Russian forces in the previous 24 hours in Luhansk and neighboring Donetsk province, according to CNN. The Ukrainian military confirmed that some Russian units suffered at least 50% loss of manpower, weapons and equipment in the area around the city of Popasna in Luhansk, about 50 km southwest of Severodonetsk, during as Russian forces are trying to advance from many directions to seek more control of the area.

Members of the pro-Russian forces drive infantry fighting vehicles in Luhansk province Reuters

On the same day, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced that the country’s military had made some progress in the fight against Russian forces in Severodonetsk the night before, according to Reuters. Mr. Reznikov thinks Moscow is trying to shift the campaign military into the “prolonged phase” by building a multi-layered defense system in areas controlled by Russian forces in southern Ukraine, especially in Kherson province.

In addition, the Southern Operations Command of Ukraine on June 3 confirmed that Russian forces are suffering losses from the “systematic counterattack” of Ukrainian troops in Kherson. The command also said that the Russian military had transferred 27 infantry fighting vehicles by rail to support the operation in Kherson. Ukrainian forces are also having an underground resistance in the city of Melitopol, in the south Ukraine and is controlled by Russian forces, according to CNN quoted Mayor Ivan Fedorov. According to intelligence, more than 100 Russian soldiers were “removed in cooperation between the Melitopol guerrilla movement and special forces,” Fedorov said. As of last night, there was no information about Moscow’s reaction to the new statements from Ukraine.

Warning from Russia

As the hostilities continue, TASS news agency on June 3 quoted a security source as saying that 12 large amphibious assault ships of the Russian Navy are ready to carry out combat missions in the Black Sea as part of the operation. its military presence in Ukraine. The source confirmed that this is the first time that the Russian Navy has such a large number of amphibious assault ships operating in the Black Sea.

On June 2, Vice Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev Emphasizing that the accomplishment of the goals of the military operation in Ukraine can help create a new global security system without the United States at the center, according to Al Jazeera TV channel.

On the other hand, Mr. Medvedev warned that Kyiv’s refusal to negotiate with Moscow would lead to more casualties on the Ukrainian side and loss of territory. Mr. Medvedev said that in the past, Ukraine seemed ready to negotiate on key issues, but stopped talking. The change was “obviously brought about under the influence of calls from Washington and Brussels”, according to Mr. Medvedev. He also accused the US and its NATO partners of supporting aggression in Ukraine so that its people would fight against Russia to the end.

As of last night, there was no information on the reaction of the parties involved to the warning from Mr. Medvedev.

June 2, after meeting with US President Joe Biden At the White House, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he believes the war between Russia and Ukraine will “end at the negotiating table,” and Kyiv continues to need NATO’s support, according to CNN.