In today's summary:
- The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and Russian "military correspondents" report on the intensification of fighting in several directions at once;
- The "DPR" announced the capture by the Ukrainian side of a stronghold in the Velika Novoselka area;
- Units of PMC Wagner continue to leave Bakhmut, they are replaced by the forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;
- Prigozhin published evidence that the Russian military had mined the escape routes of the "Wagnerites" from Bakhmut;
- In two days, more than 1200 shells were fired in the Belgorod region, fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps remain in the region;
- According to British intelligence, in May Russia launched more than 300 Shahed kamikaze drones across Ukraine;
- Russia began to buy military products previously supplied to India and Myanmar;
- Sky News has examined an arms deal allegedly signed between Russia and Iran in September last year.
The situation at the front
Judging by the reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and Russian "military correspondents", the front is gradually "coming into motion." In particular, they note activity in the Avdiyivka , Ugledar, Bakhmut and Zaporozhye directions .
The Telegram channel “Military Informant” wrote on June 4 about the strike of Ukrainian troops in the direction of Avdiivka against the villages of Opytnoe and Vodyane .
The WarGonzo project of "military officer" Semyon Pegov reported on June 4 about an attempt to break through the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Vuhledar . The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation writes that on this day, the Ukrainians launched an offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk (Ugledar) direction , using the forces of six mechanized and two tank battalions. The purpose of the offensive, according to the department, was to break through the defenses on that sector of the front, which the Ukrainian side considered the most vulnerable. It is alleged that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could not achieve this goal. The Ministry of Defense also reported that at the time of repelling the offensive, the commander of the grouping of Russian troops in Ukraine, the chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, "was at one of the forward command posts."
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation publishes footage of the defeat of the military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which took part in the attack attempt.
One of the most prominent figures of the pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass since 2014, and now the deputy commander of the National Guard of the “DPR”, Alexander Khodakovsky, announced on June 4 that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had seized one stronghold in the Velika Novoselka area and the Ukrainians were advancing on June 5 in the direction of Zolotaya Niva – Novodonetskoye . According to Khodakovsky, up to 30 armored vehicles participated in the operation. He claims that German Leopard tanks were seen for the first time near Ugledar .
Khodakovsky also publishes a video of “thoughtless mining in the rear” and comments on it like this:
“On the traditional route of the groups from rotation and rotation, mines of our own setting suddenly appeared. The UAV operators were returning in the blown up car – the four best specialists who just worked at the Novodonetsky site. By a tragic accident, this happened on the eve of the offensive … "
"Voenkor" of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Alexander Sladkov writes about the "unpleasant situation" in the Zaporozhye direction : for some reason ("bad details" Sladkov does not want to describe), Russian troops do not respond to the artillery fire of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It was also reported about an attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack Russian positions along the Novodarovka-Neskuchnoye line from the Vremievsky ledge.
Near Novodarovka, a rare case of a direct collision between Ukrainian and Russian tanks was filmed in the conditions of the current war.
In pro-Russian Telegram channels, a video is being circulated from near the village of Rivnopol , where equipment lost by Ukrainian forces was filmed : up to 10 destroyed, damaged and abandoned units (according to other estimates – 9 units). A video has also been posted, possibly of part of the same technique taken from the ground. At the same time, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who tweets under the nickname @OSINTua, claims that the video itself was filmed by Ukrainians, and the equipment is “in a gray zone.”
According to the American Institute for the Study of War, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to advance to a depth of up to 3 km in the Zaporozhye direction .
The summary of British military intelligence refers to the continued withdrawal of Wagner PMC units from Bakhmut and the introduction of units of the 76th and 106th airborne divisions in their place.
One of the founders and the main public representative of the PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, published a confirmation of the previously announced information that units of the Russian Ministry of Defense were mining the escape routes of the Wagnerites from Bakhmut , as well as a video of the interrogation of the commander of the 72nd separate motorized rifle brigade, Roman Venevitin, detained by PMC fighters.
In the video, the man says that he ordered his subordinates to disarm the Wagner PMC rapid response group, and, while intoxicated, fired at the Ural car in which the mercenaries were traveling. According to Venevitin, he committed these acts out of "personal dislike." The lieutenant colonel could not explain her reasons. It is worth recalling that Venevitin has recently become the subject of a scandal when the officers of the Storm detachment of the 72nd brigade accused the brigade commander of threatening to be shot for refusing to obey the order to go "to certain death."
Prigozhin also confirmed the information of the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar about the presence of Ukrainian forces "in the gardens" on the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut.
In addition, Prigozhin reported that Ukrainian forces had partially occupied the settlement of Berkhovka to the north of the city, and some Z-channels – about attacks in the direction of Soledar .
Meanwhile, a remarkable photo appeared in the Telegram channel of the press service of Yevgeny Prigozhin: as a birthday present for Prigozhin, employees made a souvenir in the form of the outlines of the city of Bakhmut with a sledgehammer over it.
Also, Prigozhin finally personally commented on the verbal conflict with the Kadyrovites, which resulted in harsh statements from some Wagner PMC commanders, including Wagner himself – Dmitry Utkin . According to Prigozhin, he talked with Kadyrov and agreed that “we are putting the brakes on the whole story” (whatever that means in this context). At the same time, the formal head of the “Wagnerites” noted that “during the showdown” between the Wagner PMC and the Akhmat unit, “the winner would be obvious”, but “a lot of blood would have been shed”, and saw in what happened the intrigues of some (unnamed) “tower Kremlin".
Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky announced a successful counterattack in the Svatov direction , where the soldiers of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade managed to advance 400 meters. The attack by Russian forces is said to have failed . Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov clarifies that three platoons of prisoners from the Storm Z detachment of the Russian Defense Ministry took part in the attack, armed much better than the prisoners in the Wagner PMC. However, according to him, the Russians lost 16 people killed and three captured and were forced to retreat after a counterattack by the International Legion <a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recruited from foreign volunteers – The Insider>.
Ukrainian officials have released another video about the repeatedly announced offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar published a video with the refrain – "plans love silence" and "there will be no announcement of the beginning." Earlier, on May 27, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny published a video titled "It's time to take back what's ours," which many regarded as an announcement of an offensive.
As if to confirm the information that Ukrainian troops are clearing minefields in certain sectors of the front, a video of the use of the American M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) demining system has appeared.
Mutual shelling and sabotage
The border area of the Belgorod region has become one of the most "hot spots" on the line of contact in Ukraine and on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The Governor of the Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov writes that on June 3, 569 shells were fired across the region (of which 519 were in the Shebekinsky city district ), on June 4 – 671 shells (of which 611 were in the Shebekinsky city district ). Thus, the intensity of shelling of the border area of the Belgorod region exceeded the corresponding indicator for the Donetsk agglomeration .
The Telegram channel “Military Informant” posted a video of the shelling of Shebekino with 9M22S incendiary ammunition.
During June 4, fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) (both units claim to be independent of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but fighting on the side of Ukraine, Russian armed formations) fought in the Belgorod region. Apparently, they managed to gain a foothold on the outskirts of the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka, Shebekinsky district , and captured several Russian soldiers (according to the videos published later, about 13 people, three of them seriously injured).
RDK commander Denis Kapustin (Nikitin) recorded a video message to the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, inviting him to come to Novaya Tavolzhanka and pick up the prisoners. One of these people was identified by relatives, the identities of four more were later established by the We Can Explain Telegram channel. All of them actually turned out to be military personnel.
Gladkov, in a response video, called the "Russian Volunteer Corps" "scoundrels, scoundrels and fascists" and offered to transfer the prisoners to the Shebekino border checkpoint . Later, Nikitin announced that the governor had not arrived and accused him of cowardice. Yevgeny Prigozhin, in turn, promised that if no one came for the prisoners, he would send "one of his high-ranking deputies" to pick up the Russian military.
Despite the obvious deterioration of the situation in the Belgorod region , no decisive actions are yet visible from the Kremlin. On the contrary, the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov made a statement that the shelling of the region does not affect the course of the "NOR" in any way.
But Yevgeny Prigozhin has already promised to come to the Belgorod region together with the "Wagnerites" if the Russian Defense Ministry "does not stop the lawlessness to seize the territory of the Russian Federation." Also, the desire to protect the region was expressed by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. “The Supreme Commander, of course, knows better. But I would like to remind you that the terrorists who invaded the Belgorod region could be dealt with by the forces of Chechen units, ”the Chechen leader wrote. According to him, in the current situation, not only military experience is needed, but also "anti-terrorist" experience, which Chechen fighters possess.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, on June 4, state border cover units detected an attempt by the DRG of Ukrainian terrorists to cross the river in the Novaya Tavolzhanka area. An artillery strike was inflicted on the enemy, he was scattered and retreated, the report says.
On the morning of June 5, two videos allegedly from Novaya Tavolzhanka were published on the RDK Telegram channel. It is still difficult to say who controls the settlement, but it is worth noting that the Military Informant channel geolocated both videos on the southern outskirts of the settlement.
Previously unknown footage of the raid in the Belgorod region on May 22 appeared, posted on the Telegram channel of the Polish Volunteer Corps (PDC; Polski Korpus Ochotniczy). Later, a message appeared in the channel of the Russian Volunteer Corps:
“Our comrades-in-arms from Poland have indeed been fighting with us shoulder to shoulder for the freedom and independence of Ukraine for several months. We have already managed to jointly carry out a number of operations in the Orekhovsky and Zaporozhye and Bakhmut directions <…>
As for the hostilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, the MPK fighters provide a convoy of prisoners, military and medical logistics, but only within the state border of Ukraine.”
During the shelling of Berdyansk, the use of a ballistic missile of the Tochka-U operational-tactical missile system (probably in the 9M79K modification with a cluster warhead) was recorded. Videos of air defense operation in Berdyansk and explosions in the port appeared on Telegram channels.
The Tochka-U strike allows us to confidently say that a certain number of the corresponding OTRK and missiles for them remain in service with the Ukrainian army.
On June 4, the head of the Russian administration of Crimea , Sergei Aksyonov, announced a drone attack on the peninsula. According to him, five devices were shot down, four more were planted with the help of electronic warfare. The Rybar Telegram channel writes that two Mugin-5 UAVs were destroyed near Kumovo , and three near Dzhankoy by the crews of the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system. Two drones exploded in the air (in the Steregushchey area and near Krasnaya Polyana ), two more were landed by electronic warfare equipment.
In Sevastopol, a local resident is reported who shot down a drone with a “throw of a stick.” This story echoes cases in Kiev in March 2022, when a woman allegedly shot down a drone with a can of canned tomatoes.
In the Kursk region in the city of Sudzha, a drone with the symbols of Azov was "landed" .
In the Kaluga region, two drones fell on the M3 "Ukraine" highway at a distance of 16 km from each other. According to the governor of the region Vladislav Shapsha, there were no explosions.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at the city of Kremennaya, Lugansk region , presumably from the HIMARS MLRS. According to the "Lugansk Information Center", the entrance of a five-story building was destroyed.
The RBC publication publishes a map with the places of shelling and strikes using drones on the territory of Russia (since February 24, 2022) and the formally annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces (since September 30, 2022).
As for strikes on the territory of Ukraine, according to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of June 4, the Russian side fired six X-101/555 cruise missiles and five kamikaze drones of the Shahed family (aka Geran). According to official figures, four missiles and three drones were intercepted.
According to British intelligence, in May Russia launched an unprecedented number (more than 300) of Shahed kamikaze drones across Ukraine. The post suggests that the goal of the RF Armed Forces is to deplete Ukrainian stocks of expensive high-tech air defense missiles. However, in this case, these attacks do not achieve much success, since at least 90% of the drones were shot down using older and cheaper air defense systems or neutralized by electronic warfare.
On June 3, as a result of a Russian strike on the Podgorodny community in the Dnipropetrovsk region , a two-year-old child was killed and 22 people were injured , including five children.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation at a daily briefing stated that in the area of the city of Dnipro "a workshop for assembling Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles was hit by a high-precision ground-based weapon."
The representative of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat , spoke on the air of the telethon about the shelling of the operational airfield near Kropyvnytskyi in the Kirovohrad region. According to him, four missiles were shot down, but two hit the airfield. Ignat refused to talk about the consequences.
On the evening of June 4, Russian forces attacked the city of Chuguev in the Kharkiv region. Several houses were damaged, but no one was hurt.
On the morning of June 5 , Kherson was shelled. The head of the Kherson OVA, Alexander Prokudin, reported one dead.
Losses
The BBC Russian Service and Mediazona have updated data on the losses of Russian forces in Ukraine, confirmed by reports in open sources. As of June 2, at least 24,470 people have died, including 2,329 mobilized. The deaths of 1,184 military personnel have been confirmed in the last two weeks.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov for the first time gave an assessment of the losses of Ukrainian forces in the battle for Bakhmut in an interview with Corriere della Sera:
“Since September 1, when Moscow began using convicts as mercenaries in Bakhmut, 22,816 people have died. Our losses were 7.5 times less."
According to Danilov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost 3,000 people killed. With a standard ratio of dead to wounded at the level of 1:3 or 1:4, another 9-12 thousand wounded are obtained, that is, a total of 12-15 thousand (not counting prisoners, deserters and missing people). Prigozhin, in an interview published on May 23, stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost 50 thousand people only in the battles for Bakhmut .
The Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel GRAY ZONE posted a video allegedly showing six members of the RDC who were killed in a June 1 raid in Belgorod Oblast . There has been no independent confirmation of the video's authenticity (yet).
The Telegram channel “Military Informant” published a video with Lancet kamikaze drones hitting RDK armored vehicles abandoned in the Velikaya Pisarevka area on May 22. As noted, American MRAPs are able to withstand direct hits from early modifications of the Lancets with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, although they are damaged.
The pro-Russian Telegram channel Battle Sailor published drone footage of at least three abandoned military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The technique was defined as the AMX-10RC wheeled-cannon reconnaissance and fire vehicles. Отметим, что Telegram-канал «Рыбарь» заявлял о действии в районе Новодонецкого 37-й отдельной бригады морской пехоты ВСУ, на вооружении которой состоят как AMX-10RC, так и поврежденные/брошенные неподалеку бронеавтомобили MaxxPro.
Российское Минобороны, в свою очередь, в очередной раз заявляет об уничтожении, помимо прочего, сразу трех американских боевых машин пехоты M2 Bradley, по своему обыкновению не представив никаких доказательств.
Вооружения и военная техника
Замглавы Офиса президента Украины Владимира Зеленского Игорь Жовква заявил , что у Киева недостаточно оружия для контрнаступления. В то же время сам Зеленский рассказал The Wall Street Journal, что ВСУ готовы к наступлению. «Я не знаю, сколько оно будет продолжаться. Есть несколько вариантов развития событий, совершенно разных. Но мы готовы», — сказал президент. Он отметил, что Украина хотела бы получить от союзников некоторые вооружения, но «не может ждать месяцами».
Бельгия обратится к украинским властям, чтобы выяснить, как бельгийское оружие попало в руки бойцов «Русского добровольческого корпуса», проводящего рейды на территории России. По словам источника газеты Le Soir, в документах, сопровождавших поставки, прямо указывалось, что оружие предназначено только для защиты своей территории и населения.
Премьер-министр Украины Денис Шмыгаль сообщил , что первые группы украинских летчиков уже отправились на обучение в Великобританию.
Telegram-канал «Военный Осведомитель» публикует фотографии с перевозимыми по железной дороге танками Т-80БВ, очевидно, снятыми с хранения. По визуальным признакам состояние танков совершенно неудовлетворительное, соответственно, восстановление их до полноценных боевых единиц займет довольно много времени.
Тем временем Россия начала выкупать ранее поставленную Индии и Мьянме продукцию военного назначения (ПВН), в том числе запчасти для танков и компоненты зенитных приборов ночного видения. В частности, в декабре 2022 года «Уралвагонзавод» выкупил у Мьянмы собственную ПВН на сумму $24 млн, поставленную в эту страну в 2019 году. В поставку входят 6775 телескопических прицелов и 200 камер, предназначенных для установки на танках.
Sky News изучил контракт, заключенный между Россией и Ираном на поставки оружия в сентябре прошлого года. Согласно документу (в подлинности которого журналисты, однако, не вполне уверены), Тегеран должен был поставить артиллерийские и танковые снаряды на сумму свыше $1 млн. Скорее всего, речь шла о пробных партиях — в документе указано по 100 единиц каждого элемента номенклатуры. Стоит отметить, что более чем за полгода не появилось никаких свидетельств поступления иранских боеприпасов на фронт — кроме тех случаев, когда они таинственным образом оказывались на вооружении ВСУ .
О главных событиях войны 2 июня — в предыдущей сводке: «Минобороны РФ минирует пути отхода ЧВК Вагнера из Бахмута, обстрелы Белгородской области и Киева. What is happening on the front line.