In today's summary:
- After the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was blown up, water continues to arrive in many settlements on both the left and right banks of the Dnieper;
- The occupation authorities of the left bank do not allow people to evacuate and assure that no one even asks about it;
- Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Danilov says that the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not yet begun and only separate offensive operations are being carried out;
- The hottest battles are taking place in the area of the village of Novodonetskoye near Ugledar;
- The United States believes that the drones flying to Moscow could have been sent to the houses where employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Armed Forces live;
- Russian air defense forces shot down their own Iranian drone Mohajer-6;
- The 1009th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the RF Armed Forces entered into battle with the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion and suffered heavy losses. The commander of the regiment was killed;
- Paramilitary units of Ramzan Kadyrov were brought armored cars from China.
Destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the urgent sending of humanitarian aid to areas affected by the collapse of the dam. He also said that at least 16,000 people lost their homes due to the water spill. In turn, Zelensky announced that Ukraine was going to file a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station .
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has taken several decisions in connection with the current situation. A Headquarters for the Elimination of Consequences will be created, which will include government officials and heads of state-owned enterprises. The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Klimenko will supervise the work. In general, more than 2.3 billion hryvnias have been allocated from the Recovery Fund to provide the settlements surrounding the disaster zone with drinking water.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine predicts that the fields in the south may turn into deserts as early as next year. According to the estimates of the department, 94% of irrigation systems in the Kherson region , as well as 74% and 30% in Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions , may remain without a source of water.
Researcher Tom Gyuretis shows on the map irrigation canals flowing from the Kakhovka reservoir , which will soon be drained. The military historian, tweeting under the nickname ChrisO_wiki, recalls that Kherson and Zaporozhye became fertile only in the 50s after the construction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, and earlier these territories suffered from droughts and crop failures.
NBC, citing a source in the government of one of the Western countries, reports that the United States has data that indicates Russia's guilt in undermining the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station . A clear motive for such actions is not yet known, but the most likely is the desire to complicate the forcing of the Dnieper and create a humanitarian crisis.
The head of Ukrhydroenergo, Igor Sirota, predicted that the peak of flooding would occur on the morning of June 7, after 3-4 hours after which the water level would begin to gradually subside, until after 10 days it would descend into the Black Sea .
An independent researcher, physicist Richard Cordaro believes that the explosion at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was recorded by a magnetometer located in Bucharest . Later, he said that, according to the information received, several preparatory ones were blown up before the main charge was detonated. In addition, according to him, the explosion was recorded by infrasound detectors in Bukovina (Romania) .
Pro-Russian channels are publishing a video of a single explosion on the surface of a half-collapsed roadbed passing along the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station , which occurred on June 6 at 2:46 am. It is assumed that this is either a mine explosion, which was washed away by a stream, or a “single arrival from the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”. It is worth noting that this particular explosion cannot have anything to do with the destruction of the dam as a whole.
In another video, the Russian military can be seen evacuating the flooded islands on the Dnieper . They walk waist-deep in water. They reportedly got out "without loss and with all armament". At the same time, CNN writes that the Ukrainian military observed the stampede of Russians from the eastern bank of the Dnieper, and that in the chaos, many of them were killed or injured.
According to the head of the Joint Coordinating Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalya Gumenyuk, the Russians began to prepare for withdrawal a few days before the explosion, so the Ukrainian side understood what could follow. Now the Russian units on the left bank of the Dnieper have retreated 5-15 km. This will protect the right bank from shelling from mortars, but not from artillery or MLRS.
During the night, the water in the Dnieper near Kherson rose by 1.5 meters, and in general – already by 5 meters compared to the norm. Residents and pets are being evacuated from the city from semi-flooded areas of the city, while an air raid alert is being sounded due to the fact that Russian artillery is shelling the city. In addition, it is reported that during the evacuation of the Ostrov microdistrict, the Russians fired on evacuation buses from the MLRS. The village of Antonovka is completely cut off from Kherson by water.
In another video , Kherson volunteers can be seen rescuing local residents in flooded villages on the occupied left bank of the Dnieper . It is noted that the occupying authorities did not provide them with any assistance. The city of Oleshki is completely flooded. People flee from the water on the roofs of their houses. Novye Solonetsy, Kokhany and Naked Pier were also flooded . The Ukrainian military is sending drones with drinking water bottles to people who are sitting on their rooftops. The occupiers forbid the locals on boats to rescue people who find themselves in a hopeless situation.
Volodymyr Saldo, a collaborator and acting head of the occupation administration of the Kherson region , at the same time assures that none of its residents allegedly even asks for evacuation and “people are waiting for the water to subside.”
At noon, information appeared that the water in Novaya Kakhovka had stopped coming. The city was the first to suffer from a spill after the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was blown up – two streets along the river were flooded in it. A little later it was reported that the water began to leave the city.
Employees of the Novaya Kakhovka zoo "Fairytale oak forest" were able to save some of the animals that were at home with one of the employees. These are birds, flying squirrels, ferrets, chinchillas and guinea pigs. Later, the director of the Crimean zoo "Taigan" Oleg Zubkovtold Russian propaganda media that most of the animals from the Novaya Kakhovka zoo were taken out in November 2022.
Near the village of Maryinskoye, Dnipropetrovsk region, there is a massive fish kill. The Ukrainian Ministry of Health urges citizens not to eat fish that was thrown out after the explosion on the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station , because of the risk of botulism.
The Ukrainian analytical group "Center of National Resistance" reports that on the left bank of the Dnieper, the Russian military are dressing in civilian clothes and trying to mix with the evacuated local population. It is assumed that in this way the Russians are trying to throw sabotage and reconnaissance groups into the territory of the Kherson region , controlled by Ukraine.
The situation at the front
Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, noted that the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had not yet begun, and the Russian side took over local offensive operations on different sectors of the front for him. According to him, the beginning of the offensive will be determined by the military, and then "everyone will see, recognize him."
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the Russian forces did not allow "wedging into the defense" and called false some claims that they had left the village of Becherovka near Bakhmut . At the same time, the department did not specify who exactly and when made such statements. Prior to this, the head of PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, spoke about the withdrawal of Russian troops from several positions in this settlement.
It is reported that the Russian battalion abandoned the heights near the village of Berestovoye near Bakhmut . Users of the pro-Russian forum Lostarmour note here the successful offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine mentioned that the Russians were conducting unsuccessful offensive operations in the Kleshcheevka area near Bakhmut. At the same time, this settlement has been under the occupation of the Russian Federation since January. From this we can indirectly conclude that Klescheevka (or at least its environs) are now under the control of Ukraine.
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced in some areas of the Bakhmut direction at a distance of 200 to 1100 meters. At the same time, according to her, the Russians went on the defensive here. They are concentrating reserves here to hold their positions.
According to Alexander Khodakovsky, deputy head of the DPR National Guard, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to gain a foothold in the village of Novodonetskoye near Ugledar . Similar attempts have already been made, but now Khodakovsky states a change in the tactics of the attacking side: it is mainly infantry that goes into battle, which is brought up on armored personnel carriers.
In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian sources report the introduction of the forces of the 10th Army Corps of Ukraine into battle in the direction of the city of Orekhov . It is noted that the long-term goal of the Ukrainian army here may be access to Melitopol.
Igor Girkin (Strelkov) wrote that at 20:00 on June 6, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were trying to occupy the village of Opytnoye, Donetsk region , which is under the control of the Russians. He also reported that the Ukrainian side wants to cut off Russian connections in the village of Vodiane. The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState denies the entry of Ukrainian forces into Opytnoye . Later, Girkin also clarified that the Ukrainian military only occupied one of the landings, and did not enter the village itself.
Military correspondents report the death of three Russian conscripts and the injury of seven more as a result of shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Belgorod region . Earlier it became known that untrained conscripts were sent to the regions of the Russian Federation neighboring Ukraine as border guards.
Mutual shelling and sabotage
The governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, reported an attack on a substation in the village of Popovo-Lezhachi, Glushkovsky district . According to him, two explosive devices were dropped on her from a drone. One worker was injured. In the morning there was no light both in Popovo-Lezhachi and in the village of Tetkino .
There are already traditionally a lot of shelling in the Belgorod region . Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reports on the shooting down of two air targets over Belgorod. Three cars were damaged as a result of falling debris. The Belgorod region was subjected to artillery shelling and drone attacks. 460 various munitions were fired in the Shebekinsky district , and 26 drops of explosive devices from drones were noted. It is restless in other parts of the region, but there are no victims or injured. Buildings and cars were damaged. Read more about the situation in Shebekino and other settlements of the Belgorod region in our report .
According to NBC with reference to American officials and congressmen, the purpose of the drones that flew to Moscow on the morning of May 30 could be the houses where the officers of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) live. It is not known, however, whether at least one of the drones really got into the apartment of an SVR officer (not to mention the general).
In the area of Novodonetsky, Donetsk region, a Ukrainian kamikaze drone got into a hangar, which housed the Russian military. In the video, the survivors can be seen running out of the building. OSINT-project Geoconfirmed notes that this is the first Ukrainian video from the area south of Velyka Novoselka , where offensive operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are taking place.
There was a video of an ammonia leak in a forest near Masyutovka, Kharkiv region . Local sources report that the day before, the ammonia pipeline was shelled. It is noted that the wind blowing in a southerly direction quickly dissipates the cloud of gas. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claims that the pipeline was not fired upon, but blown up by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group, and calls it a "terrorist act." The launch of the ammonia pipeline was called by Russia a prerequisite for extending the grain deal.
It is reported that an explosion sounded in the occupied Melitopol near the military unit, after which Russian air defense began to work.
Losses
Russian "military correspondents" hastened to report the interception of an "enemy" drone in the eastern part of Crimea using electronic warfare. However, later it turned out that it was an Iranian drone of the Mohajer-6 model, which is used by the Russian Federation. Photographs have also surfaced , suggesting that the drone was most likely shot down by Russian air defense. Later, a video of the defeat of an Iranian drone was also published.
After the Russian Ministry of Defense published a video of the destruction of Ukrainian agricultural equipment, which was passed off as hitting German-made Leopard tanks, evidence appeared on the Fighterbomber channel associated with the Russian Aerospace Forces that these footage was filmed in 2022.
One downed Ukrainian T-64BV tank, as well as 4 destroyed or abandoned British-made Mastiff 3 armored vehicles, were recorded with the help of a drone camera near the village of Novodonetskoye near Vuhledar . The pro-Russian channel "Military Informant" reports that during the unsuccessful assault, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost about 20 pieces of equipment. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also publishes a video of the defeat of Ukrainian armored vehicles by anti-tank missiles from helicopters (it is not possible to establish the type of equipment).
Russian Telegram channels are distributing a video with Ukrainian T-80BV tanks, which were abandoned by their crews while trying to break into Novaya Tavolzhanka, Belgorod Region (RF).
The story of the prisoners taken by the “Russian Volunteer Corps” (RDK) and the “Freedom of Russia” Legion (LSR) fighting on the side of Ukraine has been developed. One of them, as stated, is Alexei Khamitsky from the Pskov region . Most of them were able to identify the publication "We can explain." Also, a video was subsequently published with an interrogation by representatives of the LSR of Mikhail Andreev, also from the Pskov region . Later, information appeared on the Russian channel Skobari that many of these prisoners were mobilized from the Pskov region and were registered in the 1009th motorized rifle regiment of the RF Armed Forces. Finally, the Russian regional Telegram channel published a message about the death of the commander of this unit with the call sign “Ulan”, originally from the Istra district of the Moscow region (the captive Pskov Mikhail Andreev also called his commander the same call sign). It also says that the 8th and 9th companies of the regiment suffered heavy losses, and the 8th company was surrounded. In the public of Istra in VK it is said that "Ulan" is Colonel Vladimir Kuznetsov. From this we can conclude that the 1009th motorized rifle regiment entered the battle with the forces of the RDK and LSR and suffered heavy losses. This is confirmed by the appeal of one of the Pskov mobilized, who speaks of "throwing" his regiment "for slaughter."
Armaments and military equipment
On the towers of Russian tanks began to install "peaks" of the same type. On top, there are probably elements of dynamic protection, there are also two folding mesh doors over the gunner and commander.
The Swiss Senate has passed an amendment that allows the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to warring countries, including Ukraine. At the same time, a few days ago, the lower house of the Swiss Parliament rejected it. Now they will have to vote again.
The Czech state enterprise VOP CZ and Ukroboronprom will jointly repair and upgrade T-64 tanks. According to the director of the Czech company, its representatives have visited Ukroboronprom plants in recent weeks to establish mutual cooperation. It is noted that these tanks have been in storage for decades and require restoration of combat capability. The modernization of the tanks will consist in installing on them modern means of aiming, observation and improved communications.
Ramzan Kadyrov showed 8 new Tiger armored vehicles (not to be confused with the Russian GAZ-Tiger), which have recently entered service with the Chechen paramilitary forces. Interestingly, they are made by the Chinese company Shaanxi Baoji Special Vehicles Manufacturing Co. Thus, this is the first Chinese military equipment in the ranks of the Russian armed forces. They do not have weapons installed, but there are brackets for mounting them. Exporting this type of machine usually requires a special government permit.
The pro-Russian channel "Special Purpose Channel" demonstrates the captured equipment of the "Russian Volunteer Corps". It is noted that all its elements are Western models of both equipment and weapons. Among them are the M320 grenade launcher, shots for it, US smoke and fragmentation grenades, Motorola radio stations with spare batteries, as well as M72 grenade launchers and Czech RPG-75, ammunition and magazines for small arms. In addition, a container and a remote control from a miniature British Black Hornet UAV were found.
About the main events of the war on June 6 – in the previous report: “The destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are activated near Bakhmut and in the Zaporozhye region. What is happening on the front line.