The news comes on the day of new drone strikes in Russia, two of which landed on a highway. Kyiv reports that it has neutralized the Russian advance in Donetsk, while new civilian casualties are recorded in Kharkiv
According to the announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry, a “large-scale Ukrainian offensive” is underway, which began in the last few hours. Moscow reports that it “repulsed the attack by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk, while fighting intensified along the border”. Kyiv has been preparing a “major counteroffensive” for weeks, but the Ukrainian army recently said there would be no announcement of the start of the maneuvers.
The situation in Bakhmut
Meanwhile, the head and founder of the Wagner mercenary militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, confirmed that the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut had returned to the control of the Ukrainian armed forces. This was previously stated by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Malyar. The adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, Anton Gerashenko, reports it on Telegram.
Drones in Russia
An energy plant caught fire following a drone strike in the Belgorod area. This was announced by the governor of the region, specifying that there were no victims. Two drones have crashed on a freeway in the Kaluga region of Russia, which borders Moscow to the north. The area has been cordoned off. Meanwhile, Belgium is ready to ask Kyiv for clarification on the use of weapons produced by the national company Fabrique Nationale de Herstal on Russian territory by two anti-Putin militias. The local media reported it after the Washington Post’s revelations about the use of western weapons in the attack on Belgorod last week. The defense and foreign ministers of Belgium, Ludivine Dedonder and Hadja Lahbib, have decided to contact the Ukrainian authorities as soon as possible to ask for clarifications. The deliveries of arms from Belgium, it would be the position of the two exponents, are intended for the Ukrainian armed forces to protect their territory and their population from the Russian invasion.
Casualties among civilians
In Ukraine “Russian troops are concentrating their main efforts on trying to completely take the regions of Lugansk and Donetsk”, says Kyiv, “but all attacks have been repelled”. Even in the last few hours civilian victims: two in Kharkiv, one in Dnipro. Meanwhile, the Russian Pacific Fleet has begun operational exercises in the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk which will last until 20 June. This was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry. More than 10,000 soldiers, 60 ships, 35 planes are involved.
Source: Vatican News
