UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 485 - JUNE 21, 2023

The Ukrainian armed forces carried out counteroffensives on at least three fronts on June 21.

Deputy Ukrainian Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar stated on June 21 that Ukrainian forces were partially successful in offensive operations towards Bilohorivka-Shypylivka (about 10 km south of Kreminna in the Luhansk region). A Russian milblogger also claims that Ukrainian forces are conducting a counterattack in areas south and west of Kreminna. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces continued their offensive operations on the border between western Donetsk and the eastern Zaporizhzhia region along the Vilne Pole-Makariwka line, with Russian milbloggers mentioning Ukrainian attacks in this area, especially south of Velyka Novosilka. Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukrainian troops continued their offensive operations in the western Zaporizhzhia region both south and southwest of Orichiv, and that Russian forces launched a counterattack to regain lost positions in that direction. Russian sources noted that Ukrainian offensive operations in both the western Donetsk and western Zaporizhzhia regions progressed relatively slowly compared to previous days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledges that Ukrainian counteroffensives are progressing slower than expected, likely due to effective Russian defenses.

The overall slower-than-expected pace of Ukrainian counteroffensives does not reflect Ukraine's broader offensive potential, and Ukrainian forces are likely successfully creating conditions for a future main assault despite initial setbacks.

Ukrainian defense company "Ukroboronprom" announced on June 20 that Ukraine has built and successfully tested a drone with a range of 1,000 km, indicating Ukraine's intention and capability to attack Russian military infrastructure in occupied areas and Russia itself with drones of Ukrainian production.

The full Russian Offensive Update 485 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR