UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 480 - JUNE 16, 2023

The Ukrainian Armed Forces continued their counteroffensive on at least three frontlines on June 16 and reportedly achieved successes.

The Ukrainian General Staff states that the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted successful counteroffensives southwest of Bakhmut near Stupochky (about 12 km southwest of Bakhmut), in the western area of Donetsk near Vuhledar, in the western border area between Donetsk and the eastern area of Zaporizhzhia along the Levadne-Staromaiorske line, and in the western area of Zaporizhzhia along the Novodanlylivka-Robotyne line. Geolocated imagery released on June 15 shows that the Ukrainian Armed Forces made minor advances on the northwestern outskirts of Bakhmut west of Yahidne, and Russian milbloggers claim Ukrainian troops continued their counterattacks northwest, west, and southwest of Bakhmut. Russian milbloggers also claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued their attacks on Russian positions south of Velyka Novosilka in the western Donetsk area, made gains in the central Zaporizhzhia Oblast south of Huliaipole, and conducted offensive operations southwest of Orikhiv.

On June 15 and 16, Russian forces shelled Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih with cruise missiles and kamikaze drones.

The Kremlin claims that Russia has begun to move tactical nuclear warheads (under Russian control) to Belarus, as previously announced.

The full Russian Offensive Update 480 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR