In today's summary:
- "Military correspondents" did not see the "blitzkrieg" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- Ukraine is losing equipment in the Zaporozhye direction, including Leopard 2 tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles;
- The Russian side has built powerful lines of defense;
- The United States recorded an explosion at the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station;
- During the nighttime shelling, Russian missiles and drones made strange maneuvers;
- The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the headquarters of the Russian armed forces in the Kherson region, which Putin visited in April;
- Washington announced a new military aid package for Ukraine;
- Russia, with the help of Iran, is building a drone factory in Tatarstan.
The situation at the front
The commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District (RF) Ivan Popov notes the participation in offensive operations on the positions of the Russians of the 47th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, the attacks of the Ukrainian military were repulsed, and the crews of army aviation for each sortie "recorded up to 5-7 pieces of enemy equipment on the flight account." The Rybar channel associated with the Russian Defense Ministry recalls that in 2014 Popov was one of the initiators of the rocket attack in Zelenopolye.
The Russian "military commander" Alexander Kots reflects on the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine "did not succeed with the blitzkrieg." He notes that during the entire war, the Ukrainian side never took relatively large cities with a fight and mainly used the mistakes of the Russians. Kots suggests that the Ukrainian command was going to destroy the logistics and headquarters of the Russian army with high-precision strikes, and then launch a lightning offensive, counting on the flight of the enemy. However, he notes that the Russian forces, not without "fuss and confusion", but adequately met the first onslaught. Kots writes about the effectiveness of both minefields and layered defense, which allows you to retreat to advantageous positions without losing strategic territories.
Researcher Nathan Ruzer has compiled a detailed map of Russian fortification lines stretching across the entire Zaporozhye region.
The operational-combat tactical formation "Kaskad" of the "DPR" publishes a video with a wheeled armored vehicle MRAP of the Armed Forces of Ukraine left near Vuhledar . The man in the video claims that she was carrying infantry to the front line and was hit by ATGMs. However, there are no signs of defeat on it. You can see that at the beginning of the video, the Cascade fighter and the operator quickly run to the car, which suggests that this area is still not safe for the Russians.
At the front in the Zaporozhye region is the Russian sabotage and assault reconnaissance group "Rusich", which includes neo-Nazis. The group's Telegram channel reports three wounded in its composition.
The OSINT-project GeoConfirmed confirms, based on open data, Ukrainian offensive actions in the direction of the village of Velyka Novoselka . Three of the nine newly formed mechanized brigades mentioned in the Pentagon leaks are said to be taking part. It is also noted that offensive operations are being carried out in the Tokmak and Bakhmut directions . On June 5, 50 Russian troops were recorded fleeing from positions near Velikaya Novoselka .
Russian Z-channels confirm that in the Zaporozhye direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were able to gain a foothold in the village of Lobkove near Orekhov , and also continue offensive operations south of Malaya Tokmachka . In the area of the Rabotino - Verbove line, the Ukrainian military occupied one height. “Huge losses” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are noted, but it is also mentioned that the Ukrainian army continues to have combat-ready reserves. The 130th separate reconnaissance battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine publishes a video of the Ukrainian military entering Lobkove .
"Voenkor" Yuri Kotenok writes that in the Orekhovsky direction , the Armed Forces of Ukraine used mine clearance vehicles UR-77 "Meteorite" (aka "Snake Gorynych") and tanks with trawls that cleared the way through minefields for German Leopard tanks and armored vehicles with infantry. He quotes Colonel K. Zalessky, who claims that after passing them, the Ukrainian forces were unable to turn into battle formation and were hit by ATGMs, as well as by artillery and combat helicopters.
In turn, the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine publish a video of a kamikaze drone hitting the enemy’s ATGM position, which was working on Ukrainian tanks in the Orekhovsky district of the Zaporozhye region .
The situation that has developed after the explosion of the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station
The water level in the Dnieper near the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant continues to decline due to the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant . Satellite images testify to this. At the same time, as Igor Syrota, General Director of Ukrhydroenergo, says , the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir has fallen to 12.5 m, which does not allow water to be withdrawn for settlements and the ZNPP . Later, the water level in the reservoir was reported to have dropped to 11.74 m.
The SBU publishes the interception of the conversation of the Russian military. If you believe what they say, the hydroelectric dam was blown up by a sabotage group of the Russian Federation. At the same time, one of the interlocutors says that it was supposed to simply “scare” the Ukrainians, but something “went not according to plan”, and as a result, more damage was caused to the dam than expected. However, there is no certainty that a person knows what he is talking about, and not just retelling what he read on the Internet. Previously, the same assumptions were made in well-known Telegram channels.
The New York Times, citing sources in the US intelligence services, publishes information that an explosion was recorded at the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station with the help of American satellites. The Americans do not yet have exact information about who organized it. The Economist editor Shashank Joshi, who is in charge of defense issues, commenting on the NYT material, notes that in this case, the explosion was most likely staged by Russia, as it "highly controlled" the dam.
The head of the city military administration of Krivoy Rog, Alexander Vilkul, warned that water from the Kakhovka reservoir had stopped flowing into the South reservoir . There is a supply of water, but it will run out in 1.5 months even with its economical consumption.
The Russians continue to regularly shell Kherson , in connection with which the Kherson OVA asks volunteers on boats not to enter the city. It is noted that there are enough forces to save people and animals in the flooded areas. The head of HOVA, Alexander Prokudin, reports that the water level begins to gradually decrease, and also reports on the evacuation of 2,352 citizens and 550 animals.
The Planet satellite imagery service published two images dated June 5 and 7, showing how severely the Kherson district of Ostrov / Korabel and the coastal streets to the north of it were flooded.
Ukrainians in the flooded areas of the Kherson region , which are under Russian control, tell the Financial Times that the occupying authorities are preventing them from evacuating. It is reported that many people drowned, their bodies have already begun to float.
Near Nova Kakhovka , the Armed Forces of Ukraine " removed from the trees " former prisoners who fought in the Storm Z detachment. According to one of them, they were in the area of this settlement for a long time, because they intended to replace the regular Russian troops, which were to be withdrawn for regrouping. After the dam was blown up, they were forbidden to leave under threat of being shot.
Mutual shelling and sabotage
On the night of June 8-9, the Air Force of Ukraine reports the downing of 4 out of 6 Kh-101/X-55 cruise missiles, 10 out of 16 Shahed and Lancet drones, and 4 Orlan-10 and Supercam drones. Two Kalibr missiles, which were launched at 20:00 on June 8, could not be intercepted. "Shaheds" were launched from the south, and Kh-101 / Kh-55 missiles were launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers. Radio amateur Olga Goncharenko, who constantly monitors the flights of Russian strategic aviation, said that the bombers, as usual lately, took off from the Olenya polar airfield.
The head of the press center of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, Natalya Gumenyuk, spoke about the details of the night attack. According to her, the trajectory of the missiles was such as to cover almost all regions of the country with an air raid, having both a psychological impact on the population and depleting Ukraine's air defense.
The Russian Z-channel "Military Informant" writes about the strikes by Shahed drones in the Kharkiv region . Later, the head of the Kharkiv OVA, Oleg Sinegubov, reported on a missile attack on the outskirts of the city, allegedly carried out with the help of the S-300 air defense system.
Russia struck at the Umansky district of the Cherkasy region . As a result, eight people were injured, two of whom are in serious condition. Hits on an industrial facility and a car wash were recorded. Later, photos and videos of the consequences of a Kalibr missile hit near the ATB supermarket were published . In the video, you can see that this is an ordinary outlet where customers were at that time, the store has nothing to do with the military infrastructure.
The Zvyagelsky community of the Zhytomyr region was fired upon , as a result of the fall of rocket debris, a residential area was damaged. Six houses were destroyed. One person was reported killed and several wounded.
Arrivals were recorded at the positions of the Russian military near Genichesk , which are located 130 km from the front line. Russian propaganda media write about the strike of Storm Shadow missiles allegedly at a children's recreation center on the Arabat Spit . On the other hand, it is reported about the defeat of the headquarters of Russian troops in the village of Schastlivtsevo, Kherson region , which is located just almost on the Arabat Spit . In April 2023, Vladimir Putin visited it. Later it was possible to establish that the headquarters was indeed located on the territory of the recreation center for children.
Several explosions sounded in the occupied Berdyansk at night. A fire was noted at a gas station, which was unlikely to be related to rocket fire. The next morning, a car was blown up in the city.
In Voronezh , a kamikaze drone hit a residential building. Three people received minor injuries, they refused hospitalization.
Drone fragments fell on the roof of the Capital business center in Belgorod , no one was injured.
Losses
In the Velikonovoselkovsky district of the Donetsk region, the Russian TOS-1A Solntsepek multiple launch rocket system was destroyed. The merit in this is the intelligence of the 55th separate artillery brigade, aerial reconnaissance of the 129th separate territorial defense brigade and the command of the Tavria Operational Group of Forces. Later, information appeared about the destruction of another such installation in the Zaporozhye direction using the M109A6 Paladin howitzer.
Photos of a disabled Russian BMP-2 with additional active protection 675-sb3KDZ have been published . She was hit by means of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast .
The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState analyzes a Russian video showing an unsuccessful attack by the Ukrainian armed forces near the village of Malaya Tokmachka, Zaporozhye region . Losses are estimated at least 4 armored personnel carriers and one Leopard 2A4 tank. DeepState suggests that the two episodes of the destruction of Ukrainian equipment by enemy artillery were filmed using the Orlan or ZALA drone. The action takes place in a gray area near the railway tracks.
Based on the photos and videos that appeared later, the Russian channel "Military Informant" based on photos and videos gives a higher estimate of the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to his calculations, two Leopard 2A6 and 2A4 tanks were destroyed, one was knocked out and abandoned, and three more were simply abandoned. 6 M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicles, 3 MRAP M1224 MaxxPro, one YPR-765 armored personnel carrier, one BRM-2 demining vehicle and one VAB armored car were knocked out and abandoned. In addition, a Polish T-72M1 tank was destroyed, and several trucks were burned down.
OSINT project Oryx, in turn, counted one Leopard 2A6 tank destroyed and two abandoned, four abandoned M2 Bradleys, one VAB armored personnel carrier and one M-ATV armored car. At the same time, it is said that the list of losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not final and will be replenished (at least six more Bradleys).
The presence at the front of "Bradley" confirms the words of the commander of the 58th army about the introduction of the 47th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into battle. Popular Ukrainian blogger Valeriy Markus, who serves as the chief master sergeant of the brigade and raises funds to equip it, published a short video urging: “Better shut up so you don’t have to apologize later” (apparently referring to comments about lost Western equipment).
The Leopard 2A4 tank, blown up by a mine in Zaporozhye , was evacuated to the rear, where it will be repaired. It is noted that as a result of the explosion, his caterpillar was torn off. The very fact that the tank was evacuated suggests that Russian artillery does not have fire control over the place of its loss - a report by the Royal United Service Institute, which was recounted by The Insider, said that Ukrainians often cannot remove equipment from the battlefield due to for the superiority of the Russians in artillery.
Armaments and military equipment
Voenkor Alexander Sladkov warns that the Armed Forces of Ukraine remotely mine the approaches of Russian armored vehicles, primarily with the help of US-made M70 and M73 anti-tank mines, which, according to him, Russian sappers can easily cope with. Another type of mine used by the Ukrainian side on the front line is the German DM31. Thanks to the magnetic target sensor, it explodes when a sapper approaches it, who has metal objects with him.
The Russians show the process of installing handicraft anti-fragmentation protection on an anti-aircraft gun.
New $2.1 billion U.S. military aid package for Ukraine to include Patriot SAM munitions, air defense systems and HAWK missiles, 105mm and 203mm artillery shells, Puma unmanned aerial systems, and laser-guided missile system munitions . It is worth noting that the assistance is provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which means that the promised equipment and ammunition have yet to be produced, which may take several months or even years.
In Tatarstan, the Iranians are helping the Russians build a kamikaze drone factory, the Associated Press reports, citing intelligence declassified by the White House. Work is underway in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. It is assumed that the plant can start operating in early 2024.
About the main events of the war on June 8 - in the previous report: Norwegian scientists announced the explosion of the Novokakhovskaya dam, residents of the occupied Kherson region are not allowed to evacuate. The main thing at the front