UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 476 - JUNE 12, 2023

The Ukrainian armed forces continued their counteroffensive in at least three sectors of the front, achieving territorial gains on June 12.

On June 12, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Malyar, reported that the Ukrainian armed forces had advanced 6.5 km in the direction of Donetsk and Tavrsik (Zaporizhzhia) in the past week, reclaiming 90 square kilometers of territory. Malyar added that the Ukrainian armed forces liberated a settlement in the western region of Zaporizhzhia and six settlements in the eastern region of Zaporizhzhia and the western region of Donetsk during the same period. Ukrainian Armed Forces East Group spokesman Colonel Serhii Cherewaty stated that Ukrainian troops continued their counterattacks on the flanks of Bakhmut, advancing 250 to 700 meters in unspecified areas on the outskirts of the city. According to Russian sources, the Ukrainian armed forces continued their counterattacks on Russian positions southwest, north, and northwest of Bakhmut, especially near Berkhivka (3 km northwest of Bakhmut). Geolocated imagery released on June 12 also shows that the Ukrainian armed forces made limited advances in the western Donetsk region south of Velyka Novosilka.

Russian military bloggers claim that Russian forces are attempting a counterattack in this area, and that fighting in western Donetsk and the eastern Zaporizhzhia region continued throughout June 12. Russian military bloggers also report Ukrainian fighting in the western Zaporizhzhia region near Orichiv, noting that the intensity of attacks in this sector has slightly decreased.

The full Russian Offensive Update 476 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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