https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61990495
…It means the war could last for a long time, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines says…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61990495
…It means the war could last for a long time, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines says…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18023383
…
Sweden and Finland have applied to join the Western security alliance Nato, because of the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s
invasion has also prompted Nato to announce plans to increase the
number of troops that can be deployed at short notice…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61954516
… Nato has announced plans to massively increase the number of its forces at high readiness to over 300,000 troops.
The bloc’s rapid reaction force currently has 40,000 troops at its disposal, with many of those based along the alliance’s eastern flank…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61940007
…They are aiming to put on a show of unity and resolve over the war. In recent months, the Western alliance has shown signs of strain and fatigue….
“No signs of the enemy forming offensive groups have been recorded in
the Volyn and Polissia areas. According to available information, the
leadership of the Republic of Belarus continues to provide military
support to the Russian Federation. In particular, another consignment of
ammunition of up to 20 railcars has been sent to the Belgorod region,”
the statement said.
In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops with the support of
artillery are trying to block the city of Lysychansk from the south.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61891467
…Ukraine and Moldova have both been granted EU candidate status, President of the European Council Charles Michel has announced…
“Firefights continue in the Siverodonetsk direction, in the city of
Siverodonetsk. The enemy fired tanks and artillery near Siverodonetsk,
Lysychansk, Voronove, Myrna Dolyna, and Hirske. The Ukrainian soldiers
competently repulsed the enemy’s reconnaissance attempt in the
directions of Metiolkine-Voronove and Metiolkine-Sirotyne. The enemy
retreated. The occupiers are strengthening positions in the settlement
of Ustynivka, conducting an offensive in the direction of Bila Hora,
with partial success,, as hostilities continue. In the direction of
Toshkivka – Pidlisne, the enemy captured the settlements of Pidlisne and
Myrna Dolyna, consolidating forces on the occupied frontiers. They also
have partial success in the area of Hirske. The Ukrainian soldiers
successfully repulsed the assault in the direction of Vysoke,” the
General Staff said.
No significant changes were spotted in the activities performed by
Belarusian armed forces in the Volyn and Polissya areas, while the
threat of missile strikes from the Belarusian territory remains in
place.
In the northern direction, the enemy continues fortifying the border
zone and mining the area. Mortars and artillery were fired at the
settlements of Seredyna-Buda, Myropillya, and Yunakivka in Sumy region,
as well as Hremiach in Chernihiv region.
In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy conducted air reconnaissance in
the areas of Ruska Lozova, Cherkaska Lozova, and Pitomnyk. Artillery
shelling was recorded near Kharkiv, Peremohy, Verkhnyi Saltiv, Staryi
Saltiv, Chepil, Rubizhne, and Stara Hnylytsia. In addition, enemy MLR
systems were active in the districts of Korobochkine, Mospanove, and
Kutuzivka.
In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy focuses its main efforts on holding previously occupied positions.
Artillery shelling was recorded in the areas of Bohorodychne, Velyka
Komyshuvakha, Hrushuvakha, Dolyna, Petrivske, Zavgorodne, Protopopivka,
Pryshib, Karnaukhivka, Vernopillya, Chervone, Dovhenke, and
Krasnopillya. The occupiers launched an air strike near Dibrivne.
According to the press service, the enemy regrouped in the Donetsk
direction in order to strengthen its grouping for further offensive in
the Bakhmut direction. In addition, the formation of consolidated units
was identified in the area. Thus, due to significant losses sustained,
reorganization was noted of the two battalion tactical groups comprised
of the 5th Combined Army units, which had lost their combat capability,
into one consolidated BTGr. Also, according to available reports, the
enemy brought units of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the
1st Army Corps to restore combat capability.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy took no significant action,
firing at the positions of our troops with mortars, barrel and jet
artillery in the areas of Donetsk, Starodubivka, Mykolaivka, and
Pryshib.
In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy fired on the areas of Berestove
and Komyshuvakha, going for the offensive in the direction of
Oleksandropil – Komyshuvakha, and retreating after achieving no success.
The enemy took no significant action in the Avdiyivka, Novopavlivska,
and Zaporizhia areas. They fired on the territories near Krasnohorivka,
Hostre, Novoandriyivka, Huliaipilske, and Novosilka.
In the South Buh direction, in order to exhaust Ukrainian forces and
destroy fortifications, the enemy fired on the positions of Ukrainian
troops and conducted air reconnaissance using UAVs.
As the General Staff reported earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated about 34,100 Russian soldiers between February 24 and June 21, including 300 in the past day alone.
Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 1,496 (+19) tanks, 3,606 (+18)
armored fighting vehicles, 752 (+3) artillery systems, 239 (+1) multiple
launch rocket systems, 98 (+0) anti-aircraft warfare systems, 216 (+0)
warplanes, 181 (+0) helicopters, 611 (+10) operational and tactical
level UAVs, 137 (+7) cruise missiles, 14 (+0) warships/boats, 2,537
(+10) other vehicles and tanker trucks, and 59 (+4) pieces of special
equipment.
“We have reinforcements! The first Panzerhaubitze2000s – German
Panzerhaubitze2000s with trained Ukrainian crews have joined the
Ukrainian artillery family,” Reznikov wrote.
The Minister of Defense noted that this is the 6th type of 155 mm
artillery that strengthens Ukraine’s defenses. The Armed Forces of
Ukraine are already engaging the Russian troops with the following types
of artillery: M777, FH70, M109, AHS Krab, and Caesar. “From now on,
Ph2000 has joined the club,” Reznikov added.
“As always, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi will use them on the battlefield with 100%
efficiency. Of course, separate great acknowledgements go to our
artillerymen, who have already become world legends,” said Reznikov.
The Minister of Defense thanked the German partners for their
support, adding that Ukrainians “continue to count on its increase.”
Reznikov also noted the efforts of his counterpart, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht.
As reported, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) is a German
self-propelled tracked artillery installation developed in the second
half of the 1990s by the Munich-based Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. This is one
of the best artillery installations to date. PzH 2000 can hit targets
at a range of more than 30 km with standard projectiles.
Photo: Oleksii Reznikov, FB
“Definitely, Belarus took part in the aggression – the first missiles
were launched from its territory, Russian troops attacked from there.
However, we believe that the Belarusian people do not support this idea
(of participation in the war against Ukraine – LB.ua). Of course, they
provided their territory for Russian troops. But the probability of the
Belarusian army massively participating in the war is not very high
precisely because of the mood of the Belarusian people,” said Andriy
Yermak.
As Ukrinform reported, referring to the Ministry of Defense of
Ukraine, up to seven Belarusian battalions have been amassed on the
Belarusian- Ukrainian border in Brest and Gomel regions. The main
efforts are focused on running reconnaissance missions, fortifying
positions, and protecting the state border. The threat of missile and
air strikes from the territory of the Republic of Belarus remains in
place.
Photo: Ukrainian President’s Office
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61861849
…Imports of Russian oil rose by 55% from a year earlier to a record level in May, displacing Saudi Arabia as China’s biggest provider…