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Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily, much of which forms the basis of the script. While the Podcast is on hiatus I will make this Draft available here both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 23:00 on June 5 stated that day 837 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 85 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 1 missile strikes, 37 air strikes, 499 drone strikes and 2,745 shellings across the positions of our troops.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continue to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
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Kyiv 'has a chance' to change difficult battlefield situation
The situation on the battlefield in Ukraine's east remains difficult, but Ukrainian soldiers can shift it to their advantage by doing “everything possible,” Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on June 5. The Kyiv Independent reports.
Russia is continuing to push on the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, and Kharkiv sectors, Syrskyi said after visiting the eastern front.
In other directions, Moscow's troops are reportedly carrying out attacks" to stretch the active front line," to grind down Ukrainian troops and prevent them from deploying to other areas.
“In Vovchansk, our main task at this stage is to hold back the enemy, inflict maximum losses and gradually move forward to liberate our territories,” the commander said.
Heavy fighting is also ongoing near the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, where Russian troops are trying to break through Ukraine's defense from two directions, Syrskyi said.
“Our task is to stop the enemy and force them to go on the defensive. Despite the difficult situation, we have a chance to change the situation in our favor. And the defense forces are doing everything possible to do so." Syrskyi said.
Ukraine's armed forces have used U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia, the Associated Press (AP) reported on June 5, the first such confirmation since the White House partially lifted a ban on such actions last week.
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Air Force Daily Report
On the night of June 6, 2024, the Russian occupiers attacked Dnipropetrovsk region with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Taganrog region - Russian Federation, and also attacked with 18 Shahed-131/136 type UAVs from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk region - Russian Federation, Cape Chauda - Crimea.
The enemy air attack was repelled by mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, anti-aircraft missile forces, fighter aircraft and electronic warfare units of the Air Force.
As a result of anti-aircraft combat, 17 attack UAVs were shot down in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Khmelnytskyi regions.
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The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were 5 attacks in the vicinity of Lyptsi and Vovchansk. The situation is under control.
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Kupyansk axis:
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Lyman axis: The situation has not changed significantly.
Siversk axis: Russia carried out 5 assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske, Vyimka and Rozdolivka.
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Kramatorsk axis: There were 11 assaults in the vicinity of Kalynivka, Noyvi, Ivanivske, Klischiivka and Andriivka
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The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: There were a total of 23 Russian assaults across the front. Ukrainian defenders are taking active measures to stabilize the situation and prevent invaders from advancing further.
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Kurakhove axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Vremika axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: Russian forces assaulted Ukrainian defences on the left bank of the Dnipro in the vicinity of Krynky 3 times over the previous day, with air support. All attacks were repelled.
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Ukraine uses sea drones to sink another Russian vessel
Russian forces in Ukraine lose another ship, this time a Project 498 tug, but most important here's the tactic employed by the Ukrainian attack drone operators Defense Express writes.
Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) has presented another video showcasing the operation of Magura V5 naval drones against russian military vessels near Crimea. The attack was carried out on the night of June 6th, 2024, with the target being either Saturn or Protey roadstead tugboat of Project 498 class.
The ship was caught off guard in Lake Panske, next to Vuzka Bay connected to the Black Sea, where attacks by Ukrainian naval drones have already become commonplace: the russian invasion forces had lost two boats of the KS-701 Tunets–class on the same spot a few days prior, and before that also a patrol boat of Project 12150 Mangust.
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Despite the success in this mission, with the Saturn tugboat having sunk, the loss of a roadstead tug can hardly be called critical for the russian navy. After all, it really is an ordinary tugboat, no weapons, no special features.
But what deserves attention about this attack is that apparently, during the execution, the Ukrainian drones and their operators worked out overcoming the boom barricades. These physical barriers were set up by russians to prevent Magura V5s and other unmanned boats in Ukraine's arsenal from entering strategic water areas hosting the most important naval assets, like missile carriers, submarines, landing craft, etc.
The video was filmed by one of the Magura drones, and if we look through it closely, we'll see a sea drone sail by, and then, 17 seconds into the video, another kamikaze drone explodes ahead.
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Therefore, the key aspect about this episode is the training at creating a passage in boom barriers, which, in practice, turned out to be quite possible. Defense Express reminds that such barriers were seen blocking the entrance to the Sevastopol Bay in Crimea and, most likely, they are deployed at the russian navy base in Novorossiysk, too, where all the big targets — combat ships — are currently stationed.
Another detail to keep track of is that russian forces, in an attempt to cover their submarines from potential aerial drone strikes, keep them in a semi-submerged state, which makes them an excellent target for Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles.
Russia has still not restored ferry crossings in Qirim
Russia has not resumed operations at the Kerch ferry crossing in occupied Qirim after Ukraine's attack in late May, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces. The Kyiv Independent reports.
The Ukrainian military reportedly struck the ferry crossing in occupied Kerch with U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles overnight on May 30. Two Russian ferries were “significantly damaged,” according to Ukraine's General Staff.
"As of now, there is no information that they (Russia) have resumed operations. And it is unlikely to happen. Of course, they can bring some ferries from somewhere else. They have inland water connections to the Caspian Sea, and even to the Baltic Fleet. But it is not a fact," Pletenchuk said.
Moscow "actively used" the ferry crossing to supply Russian troops in the occupied peninsula and defended it with Russian Pantsir, Tor, and Triumph air defense systems, the Ukrainian military said.
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TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Ukraine's strikes against rail crossings in Qirim caused significant disruption to Russian military logistics.
The UK Ministry of Defense in its June 6 Intelligence Update stated that Ukraine's strikes against rail crossings in Crimea highlight the vulnerability of the Strait, despite Russia's significant investment in its security
"On 29 May 2024 Ukrainian missiles strikes damaged two Russian roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) rail ferries on the Crimean side of the Kerch Strait crossing, rendering them non-operational. These rail ferries almost certainly provided the primary means of rail transportation for Russian fuel and ammunition train loads to Crimea due to stringent security measures employed on the Kerch Bridge. Russia also operates vehicle RO-RO ferries to support the movement of heavy loads across the Strait, which have resumed operations post-strike,"
"The degraded rail crossing capacity almost certainly caused significant temporary disruption to Russian military logistics operations and potentially, Crimea's fuel supply. […] The Ukrainian strike on the ferry crossings and a subsequent attack on a nearby fuel depot, highlights again the vulnerability of the Strait to Ukrainian interdiction, despite Russia's significant investment in security and air defense,"
According to the statement, Russia will almost certainly be forced to replace the rail ferry service as soon as possible, likely impacting its wider maritime logistics operations, or risk relaxing its procedures by using the rail bridge to transit fuel and explosive stores.
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THE HOME FRONT
USA continues with confusing statements about authorisations given to Ukraine regarding the use of US Munitions
US think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its June 5 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that US officials continue to attempt to clarify US policy regarding Ukraine's ability to strike a limited subset of Russian military targets within Russia with US-provided weapons, but public communications about US policy remain unclear.
US National Security Spokesperson John Kirby stated during a press conference on June 4 that "there's never been a restriction on the Ukrainians shooting down hostile aircraft, even if those aircraft are not necessarily in Ukrainian airspace."
Kirby made this statement in response to a question about whether America's recent partial lifting of restrictions on Ukraine's ability to strike targets within Russia with US-provided weapons pertains to strikes against Russian aircraft operating in Russian airspace. Kirby suggested that Ukrainian forces can shoot down Russian aircraft within Russian airspace if they "pose an impending threat" to Ukraine and stated that Ukrainian forces already have done so since the beginning of the war. It remains unclear what the official US policy on what Russian aircraft constitute "an impending threat" to Ukraine, and Kirby's statements did not elucidate how the US administration views this issue. ISW continues to assess that Ukraine's ability to defend itself against devastating Russian glide bomb strikes is heavily contingent on Ukraine's ability to target Russian aircraft within Russian airspace using US-provided air defense systems before Russian aircraft can launch strikes at Ukrainian cities, critical infrastructure, and frontline positions.
The current lack of clarity in US restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-provided weapons to strike Russian military assets within Russia has routinely missed the opportunity to force Russia to self-deter against conducting such strikes on Ukrainian territory from Russian airspace. Russian forces continued to conduct intense glide bomb attacks against Ukraine on June 5, likely largely from Russian airspace.
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RUSSIAN WORLD
Kremlin purge continues as Deputy Speaker demoted
The apparent demotion of former First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council and United Russia Secretary Andrei Turchak on June 4 is likely part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing effort to remove from power the political and military figures that violated his trust in 2023. the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on June 5
The Russian Federal Council terminated Turchak’s powers on June 5 after Putin appointed Turchak to become the governor of Altai Republic on June 4. Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko wryly stated in a farewell message that Turchak will turn Altai Republic into a “tourist Mecca.”
Russian insider sources and political bloggers widely claimed that Putin most likely removed Turchak from his position in Moscow for his allegedly close relationship with deceased Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin and conflict with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) over the control of occupied Ukrainian territories.
Some Russian insider sources and political bloggers also claimed that Putin may have also been dissatisfied with Turchak’s execution of a Kremlin effort to have Russian veterans participate in the Russian primaries in his role as the Chairperson of the Russian State Duma "Special Military Operation" Working Group, although some Russian sources pointed out that this failure was unlikely to have warranted Turchak’s exile to one of the most economically depressed regions in Russia over 4,000 kilometers from the Kremlin.
Some Russian sources also speculated that Turchak was demoted for his excessive involvement in local St. Petersburg political drama, and many sources cited Turchak’s tendency to intervene in Kremlin intrigues in an effort to improve his own political standing including by partnering up with former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
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Ukraine targets two Russian oil refineries and an oil depot in nighttime attack
Overnight on 6 June, Ukraine allegedly targeted three Russian fuel facilities, according to reports from Russian sources and NASA FIRMS data, and a fuel depot. Euromaidan Press reports.
The targets, including two oil refineries in Novoshakhtinsk and Slavyansk-na-Kubani, and a depot near Stary Oskol.
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In the past three months, Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks against the Russian oil industry, significantly disrupting fuel supplies crucial for the Russian military, while simultaneously decreasing the Kremlin’s export revenues.
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NEWS WORLDWIDE
Zelenskyy arrives in France for D-Day commemorations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in France ahead of the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy on June 6. The Kyiv Independent reports.
The event marks the day on June 6, 1944, when 7,000 boats carrying nearly 160,000 troops from eight Allied countries landed on five Normandy beaches. The landing was the starting point for the liberation of France, and eventually the rest of Western Europe, from Nazi Germany.
Zelenskyy will join French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among other leaders and surviving veterans in attendance.
Zelenskyy said he was "very honored to take part" in the event, which serves as a "reminder of the courage and determination shown for the sake of freedom and democracy."
Macron is expected to preside over an international ceremony at 3 p.m. local time. World leaders will then gather in the nearby city of Caen for talks later in the day.
According to Politico, France initially invited a representative from Russia to take part in the commemoration due to the Soviet Union's role in the war against Nazi Germany, but this invitation was revoked after the U.S., U.K., and "two other World War II allies expressed concerns."
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US foreign policy fails to grasp reality and urgency in Ukraine
In a powerful lecture at the Foreign Policy Association’s annual event, esteemed historian Timothy Snyder argues that American slowness and indecisiveness threaten Ukraine losing the war against Russia, which would lead to the genocide of Ukrainians, a blow to international legal order, nuclear proliferation, and heightened risk of war in East Asia.Euromaidan Press reported.
At Foreign Policy Association’s annual W. Michael Reisman Distinguished Lecture on International Law and Diplomacy in New York City on 18 April, American historian Timothy Snyder slammed the US for its six-month delay in approving drastically needed military funding for Ukraine in Congress. Shortly after the lecture, Congress finally passed the $61 bn bill. The delay, however, left the Ukrainians outgunned 8:1, leading to the fall of the city of Avdiivka and enabling current Russian creeping gains.
In his lecture, titled The Peril of Slowness: American Mistakes during Russia’s War of Aggression in Ukraine, Snyder argues that American foreign policy failed Ukraine because it tends to distance itself from reality and avoid thinking about ways to win the war against Russia, which threatens not only Ukraine but also the global order and freedom.
Snyder identifies two factors that influence the perception of time and lead to shortcomings in policymaking:
The internet creates a “perpetual groundhog day” mentality, forcing people to constantly reaffirm their beliefs and hindering progress.
History is reduced to simple analogies through sayings like “history repeats itself,” which breeds a sense of inevitability and impotence to change the situation.
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MILITARY & TECH
Russia faces heavy losses of Msta-S howitzers
Russia has reportedly lost a substantial number of its 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers over the past month Militarnyi
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