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Ukraine Invasion: Part 41

998 replies

MagicFox · 06/06/2023 13:13

Welcome to thread 41 with new guidance thrashed out with regular posters to keep us on track :-) Hope you all approve!

  1. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events
  1. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content
  1. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful
OP posts:
Thread gallery
161
DdraigGoch · 19/06/2023 23:24

Surplus2requirements · 19/06/2023 21:04

This old lady went over 2 weeks ago

The dam has already been busted.

Surplus2requirements · 20/06/2023 00:23

MissConductUS · 19/06/2023 23:12

Is that a Lancaster?

Yes

mids2019 · 20/06/2023 06:54

Does NATO have an overall strategic plan with its weapon supplies to Ukraine. Are the weapons being given as apolitical gestures are has some combined thought been given given with the UAF in their use that is in Ukraine's and NATOs best interests. I understand NATO will not join the conflict directly but where does this leave our overall strategy?

I still do feel Russia is playing its nuclear card to the max and that is hindering our support.

notimagain · 20/06/2023 07:12

mids2019 · 20/06/2023 06:54

Does NATO have an overall strategic plan with its weapon supplies to Ukraine. Are the weapons being given as apolitical gestures are has some combined thought been given given with the UAF in their use that is in Ukraine's and NATOs best interests. I understand NATO will not join the conflict directly but where does this leave our overall strategy?

I still do feel Russia is playing its nuclear card to the max and that is hindering our support.

The strategy as far as see it is provide Ukraine with weapons that NATO can spare and which may also help Ukraine hold what it has (so emphasis on anti-tank initially, Air Defence of population centres) and then hopefully regain what has been lost..

I don't think you're going to hear much more stated by way of strategy than that.

Behind closed doors I'm sure lots more has been discussed, including Russia's nuclear posture.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 08:22

mids2019 · 20/06/2023 06:54

Does NATO have an overall strategic plan with its weapon supplies to Ukraine. Are the weapons being given as apolitical gestures are has some combined thought been given given with the UAF in their use that is in Ukraine's and NATOs best interests. I understand NATO will not join the conflict directly but where does this leave our overall strategy?

I still do feel Russia is playing its nuclear card to the max and that is hindering our support.

I wonder if, by now, it's partially become a habit for the leaders to drag their heels.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 08:43

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-19-2023

Key Takeaways

  • Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least three sectors of the frontline and made gains on June 19.
  • Russian forces conducted drone and missile strikes targeting southern Ukraine on June 19.
  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported that the Chinese government reiterated that it is not providing, and will not provide, lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine.
  • US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin indicated that it is ready to help Ukraine fly and maintain Lockheed’s F-16 fighter jets if NATO states agree to send them to Ukraine.
  • Kremlin-affiliated Russian tech giant Yandex claimed that international sanctions against Russia prevented the company from providing the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) with user data in compliance with a Russian security law, resulting in a significant fine.
  • Russian forces made gains in the Kupyansk area and continued ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
  • Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations while Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks near Bakhmut.
  • Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted limited attacks on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line and made marginal gains.
  • Ukrainian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the administrative border between western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhia oblasts.
  • Ukrainian forces conducted limited ground attacks in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
  • The Wagner Group continues efforts to expand its recruitment pool in the wake of significant losses in Ukraine.
  • Russian sources claimed that a car carrying a Zaporizhia Oblast occupation official exploded in Simferopol, occupied Crimea.

Expanded: * *A Moscow court imposed a two million ruble (roughly $23,795) fine against Yandex on June 18 for failing to provide the FSB with unspecified user data for national security reasons.[12]A Yandex representative claimed that Yandex did not intend to break Russian law but that international sanctions prevent Yandex from purchasing, installing, and configuring the foreign hardware and software necessary to comply with the law. While it is unclear how foreign technology products would help Yandex comply with Russian law, the situation demonstrates that international sanctions have impacted some aspects of the Russian technology sector and national security apparatus.

Prigozhin's establishing of himself as a new political force to be reckoned with (imo) in Russia continues.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 08:49

It seems that the Russian ammunition dump that was blown up yesterday in Rykove by Ukraine may be quite a big deal.

Trent Telenko's take is that The size and duration (6 hours plus) of the secondaries at the Rykove (Partyzany) ammo depot (below) argue the PSU storm Shadow Strike hit a RuAF theater level ammo storage depot.

and it will significantly affect the Russian artillery abilities for a while to come.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 09:09

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️(https://kyivindependent.com/blinken-china-promises-not-to-send-weapons-to-russia/
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on June 19 that China had renewed promises not to send arms to Russia to fight in Ukraine, CNN reported from Blinken's visit to Beijing.
Although China has assured the U.S. it will not provide lethal aid to Russia, Blinken voiced concern at the actions of private Chinese firms.

⚡️Defense Ministry: 'Difficult situation' in Ukraine's east (https://kyivindependent.com/defense-ministry-difficult-situation-in-ukraines-east-as-russia-deploys-more-forces/) as Russia deploys more forces.
Russia has deployed more forces to Ukraine's eastern frontline in its attempt to advance toward Lyman and Kupiansk and seize the initiative, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on June 19.

⚡️Zaluzhnyi publishes video of his frontline trip for first time (https://kyivindependent.com/zaluzhnyi-publishes-video-of-his-frontline-trip-for-first-time-says-counteroffensive-continues-as-planned/), says counteroffensive "continues as planned.

⚡️Macron says (https://kyivindependent.com/macron-says/) SAMP/T air defense systems 'deployed and operational' in Ukraine.

⚡️Cost of damage in Kherson Oblast between $60-70 billion (https://kyivindependent.com/70-billion/) following dam explosion.

⚡️European Commission: Budapest must explain (https://kyivindependent.com/european-commission-hungary-should-explain-its-role-in-ukrainian-pows-release-in-russia/) role in release of Ukrainian POWs from Russia to Hungary.

⚡️ Media: 81% of foreign components in Russian missiles originate (https://kyivindependent.com/media-81-of-foreign-components-in-russian-missiles-originate-in-us/) in US, LIGA.net wrote on June 19, referencing an obtained document from the Yermak-McFaul Expert Group on Russian Sanctions.

⚡️Reuters: Ukraine meets 2 out of 7 conditions (https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-ukraine-meets-2-out-of-7-conditions-to-start-eu-membership-talks/) to start EU membership talks, sources say.

⚡️Foreign Ministry demands (https://kyivindependent.com/foreign-ministry-demands-access-to-pows-transferred-to-hungary/) access to Ukrainian POWs transferred to Hungary.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry demands immediate access for a consul to the 11 prisoners of war (POWs) held in Hungary in isolation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said on June 19.

⚡️SBU: Chernihiv deputy mayor charged with state funds embezzlement (https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-chernihiv-deputy-mayor-charged-with-state-funds-embezzlement/).
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported on June 19 it detained Chernihiv deputy mayor on charges of embezzling Hr 30 million ($812 000) of state funds.

⚡️ Media: 6 Russians in International Olympic Committee support (https://kyivindependent.com/media-6-russians-in-international-olympic-committee-support-war-against-ukraine/) war against Ukraine according to an investigation by the sports news outlet Tribuna, published on June 19.

⚡️Health Ministry: Water downstream (https://kyivindependent.com/health-ministry-water-downstream-from-destroyed-kakhovka-dam-remains-highly-contaminated/) from destroyed Kakhovka dam remains highly contaminated.
At least 30% of samples taken from surface water bodies and recreation areas of Kherson, Odesa, and Mykolaiv Oblasts do not meet hygiene standards, in the aftermath of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the health ministry reported on June 19.

⚡️Moldova recognizes (https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-recognizes-as-unconstitutional-bans-pro-russian-shor-party/) as unconstitutional, bans pro-Russian Shor party.

EU top justice official: We aren't waiting for war's end to prosecute Russian crimes (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-top-justice-official-we-arent-waiting-for-wars-end-to-prosecute-russian-crimes/)
As Russia's war against Ukraine rages on, the European Union's top justice official says the EU and its partners want to bring all perpetrators of international crimes to justice.

Explosions were heard in the city of Lviv and the surrounding oblast around 5 a.m. on June 20, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported on Telegram.Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported on Telegram. Russia targets (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-targets-critical-infrastructure-in-lviv/) critical infrastructure. [relatively unusual for Lviv to be hit]

⚡️Survey: Only 23% Ukrainians want to change (https://kyivindependent.com/survey-only-23-ukrainians-want-to-change-president-after-war/) president after war.

Ever since Ukraine made the decision to re-orient their country towards the west, Russia has tried to demonize Ukrainians by calling them “Nazis”. Watch the latest episode () about how Russia steals, appropriates and rewrites Ukrainian history to try to justify its war of aggression.

Russian losses very high again in both personnel and hardware.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 09:25

UNITED24 Media Telegram

[some stills of Rykove, where Ukraine blew up an ammo dump by a major railway intersection. It is flattened!]

After two weeks of intense fighting, the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased the total area of land regained to 113 square kilometers. According to the Defense Ministry, 4600 Russians were killed or wounded in action.

Jens Stoltenberg puts an end to the issue of Ukraine's official invitation to NATO
At a briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the NATO Secretary General confirmed that the Alliance members are not going to officially invite Ukraine to the summit in Vilnius.

The Danish government has decided to increase military aid to Ukraine within the Ukrainian Fund to 21.9 billion Danish kroner ($3.2 billion) in 2023-2028.

🇪🇺 The European Commission will provide its first oral assessment of Ukraine as a candidate country for EU membership on Thursday, June 22, during the informal meeting of the European Council on general issues, — spokeswoman of the EC Ana Pisonero.

Kyiv is negotiating with Western arms manufacturers on the creation of production on the territory of Ukraine, — Reuters.

🇭🇺 Hungary is not involved in the removal from Russia of 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war, who are currently on the territory of Hungary, stated the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Szijarto. He claims that the transfer of Ukrainians to Budapest occurred after "discussions between the church and religious organizations in which the Hungarian state did not take any part."
Szijjarto added that the prisoners handed over to Hungary can contact the Ukrainian authorities "if they want."

A submarine went missing in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeast coast of Canada on an expedition to study the wreckage of the Titanic. There is a search and rescue operation.
According to the US Coast Guard, there were five people on board the submarine. Among them is the British billionaire Hamish Harding and the founder of the company that owns the bathyscaphe, Stockton Rush. According to one version, the submarine could come across a reef.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 09:30

Live: Ukraine Telegram

Deputy Defense Minister Malyar said that the enemy has reinforced its forces and is attacking in the Liman and Kupyansk directions, but Ukrainian defenders are not allowing it to advance.
According to military sources, Russian offensives in the Liman sector are currently unsuccessful. The positions lost by the Ukrainian side are immediately recaptured.
The strongest Russian attacks are in the area of Torske (10 km east of Lyman) and in the forest south of Kreminna.

The Air Force destroyed 32 out of 35 Shahed attack drones at night, with the main area of attack being Kyiv region, where more than two dozen UAVs were shot down

Montenegro's new president promised to continue supporting Ukraine, he said at a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador.

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the US is building special drones that can release infected mosquitoes far behind enemy lines as a new type of bioweapon to be used against the Russian Army.

More than a week before the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was blown up, a car with explosives was parked there - the Associated Press obtained (https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-kakhovka-dam-collapse-investigation-f5b76fe1ddbf98aa5ff7e4dfd3199c38) a picture from a Ukrainian drone dated May 28.
A Ukrainian special forces source confirmed that the car could have been placed there for two purposes: to stop the Ukrainian military from advancing on the dam or to amplify the explosion in the engine room and destroy the upper part of the dam. But one car bomb would not have been enough to destroy the dam.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
MrTiddlesTheCat · 20/06/2023 10:37

'Infected mosquitoes' and they said that with a straight face?

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 11:32

They've had practice !

Igotjelly · 20/06/2023 13:06

Well thank goodness we have Trump to be the voice of reason as ever HmmHmm

"Donald Trump has claimed if he remained in office as US president Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine. He also claims he delayed Russia's invasion by several years after he told the Russian president: "Don't do it." He made the comments during an interview with right-wing US network Fox News. "I have a very good relationship with Putin. I mean, I haven’t talked to him for a long time, but I have a very strong relationship with Putin," Mr Trump said. He has previously stated he would have ended the war within 24 hours. Mr Trump added: "Look, I talked to him. I said, if you do it, there's going to be hell to pay. It's going to be a catastrophe. Don't do it."

MissConductUS · 20/06/2023 13:18

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the US is building special drones that can release infected mosquitoes far behind enemy lines as a new type of bioweapon to be used against the Russian Army.

He's got some bad intel. We're sending Florida mosquitoes, which are the size of birds and can kill Russian soldiers with a single bite.

RedToothBrush · 20/06/2023 14:04

MissConductUS · 20/06/2023 13:18

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the US is building special drones that can release infected mosquitoes far behind enemy lines as a new type of bioweapon to be used against the Russian Army.

He's got some bad intel. We're sending Florida mosquitoes, which are the size of birds and can kill Russian soldiers with a single bite.

😂

God. It really is depressing how lacking in education Russian are though.

I suppose they have to have an excuse in for when (not when sorry, it's already happening) there's outbreaks of dysentry, cholera and typhus in occupied areas.

As I say, it's going to get a whole lot bleaker by the look of it as we go from summer to autumn and beyond (and unfortunately the risk to Ukrainians soilders who are fighting in these conditions can't be ignored either).

MissConductUS · 20/06/2023 16:46

I suppose they have to have an excuse in for when (not when sorry, it's already happening) there's outbreaks of dysentry, cholera and typhus in occupied areas.

It also shows how precarious Russian logistics is. They can't get clean, potable water to their troops. I've also seen a drone video that shows Russian soldiers drinking from a roadside ditch.

Here's a recent interview Ben Hodges did with a Ukrainian TV station in English. He discusses the timing of the offensive, operational security, and his expectations going forward.

The beginning of Ukrainian offensive: "surprises", obstacles and reasons for optimism, - Ben Hodges

https://www.patreon.com/ukrlife - Support UKRLIFE.TV!Ben Hodges, a retired United States Army officer who served as commanding general, United States Army Eu...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUtyBC-xR50

RedToothBrush · 20/06/2023 18:54

Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, supposes that the threat of an explosion at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power plant (ZNPP) is real, since the occupiers have additionally mined the cooler.

DdraigGoch · 21/06/2023 00:01

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 20/06/2023 08:49

It seems that the Russian ammunition dump that was blown up yesterday in Rykove by Ukraine may be quite a big deal.

Trent Telenko's take is that The size and duration (6 hours plus) of the secondaries at the Rykove (Partyzany) ammo depot (below) argue the PSU storm Shadow Strike hit a RuAF theater level ammo storage depot.

and it will significantly affect the Russian artillery abilities for a while to come.

Good, artillery has been responsible for a large proportion of the collateral damage.

MissConductUS · 21/06/2023 00:21

DdraigGoch · 21/06/2023 00:01

Good, artillery has been responsible for a large proportion of the collateral damage.

And because it was next to a railroad juncture, that's out of action for a while as well.

DdraigGoch · 21/06/2023 00:31

Oh yes, pointwork is harder to replace than plain line.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 21/06/2023 09:49

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-20-2023

Key Takeaways

  • Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least two sectors of the front on June 20.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues to respond to Ukrainian counteroffensive operations with a relatively high degree of rhetorical coherence, suggesting that the MoD has learned from its past mishandling of the information space during previous Ukrainian counteroffensives.
  • Russian forces conducted a missile and drone strike on Ukraine on June 20.
  • Russian forces continued a slightly intensified pace of ground attacks near Kreminna.
  • Russian and Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks near Bakhmut.
  • Russian forces continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
  • Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on the administrative border between Zaporizhia and Donetsk oblasts.
  • Ukrainian forces continued limited ground attacks in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
  • The Kremlin continues to lower the requirements for Russian military service in an effort to increase recruitment.
  • Russia aims to use the annual International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2023” to diversify and expand its defense industrial base (DIB).
Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 21/06/2023 10:01

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️ Ukraine officially completes the process of joining the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), Ukraine's Finance Ministry reported on June 20.
Ukraine became Development Bank's 43rd member. (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-joins-council-of-europe-development-bank-2/)

⚡️Intelligence chief: Russia additionally mined (https://kyivindependent.com/intelligence-chief-russia-additionally-mined-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant/) Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
According to Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov, there is a threat of an explosion or accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as the Russian forces have additionally mined the plant's cooler.

⚡️EU to train 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-to-help-train-30-000-ukrainian-soldiers-in-2023/) in 2023.

⚡️Ukraine's military reports making advances (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-military-reports-making-advances-on-southern-front-line/) on southern front line.

⚡️Bloomberg: EU prepares $55 billion financial aid package (https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-eu-prepares/) for Ukraine.
The European Union plans to propose a financial aid package of 50 billion euros ($55 billion) for Ukraine ahead of the upcoming donor conference in London, Bloomberg wrote on June 20.

⚡️Blinken: US to announce (https://kyivindependent.com/blinken-us-to-announce-robust-aid-package-for-ukraine/) 'robust' aid package for Ukraine on 21 June.

⚡️Denmark announces $3 billion (https://kyivindependent.com/denmark-announces-3-2-billion-in-military-aid-to-ukraine/) in military aid to Ukraine to be delivered in the period from 2023-2028.

⚡️Norway to allocate $23 million (https://kyivindependent.com/norway-to-allocate-23-million-for-ukraines-nuclear-safety/) for Ukraine’s nuclear safety.
Around $9.3 million will be provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose experts are present at the Chornobyl site, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and three other operational nuclear plants in Ukraine.

⚡️ Pentagon's accounting error provides (https://kyivindependent.com/pentagons-accounting-error-provides-ukraine-with/) Ukraine further $6.2 billion in military aid.
The U.S. Defense Department overestimated the value of arms sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion.
The unspent sum will be used for further military aid, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on June 21.

⚡️UN chief calls (https://kyivindependent.com/un-chief-calls/) for continuation of grain deal amid Russian threats.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on parties involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative to do "everything possible" to prolong the grain deal amid Russian threats to abandon the grain deal unless the export of Russian ammonia to Europe is resumed.

⚡️Media: 370 pro-Russian disinformation sites (https://kyivindependent.com/400-pro-russian-disinformation-sites-dicoverd-in-bulgaria/) discovered in Bulgaria.

⚡️Hungary denies involvement (https://kyivindependent.com/hungary-denies-involvement-in-ukrainian-pow-transfer/) in Ukrainian POW transfer, Ukraine's intelligence says otherwise. In spite of Hungary's claims, the Ukrainian military intelligence said it had proof that Budapest was aware of the plans to conduct the transfer.

⚡️Foreign Ministry: 3 out of 11 Ukrainian POWs transferred to Hungary return home. (https://kyivindependent.com/foreign-ministry-3-out-of-11-ukrainian-pows-transferred-to-hungary-return-home/)

⚡️Russian media: Fire erupts at gunpowder factory (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-media-fire-erupts-at-gunpowder-factory-in-russias-tambov-region/) in Russia's Tambov region.
Russian forces shelled the State Emergency Service rescuers in Kherson, killing one and injuring seven, Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak reported on June 20.

Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Journalists track down properties of Russian elites in Spain (https://kyivindependent.com/investigative-stories-from-ukraine-journalists-track-down-properties-of-russian-elites-in-spain/)

OCCRP investigation reveals how 2 Russian oligarchs avoid sanctions (https://kyivindependent.com/occrp-investigation-reveals-how-russian-oligarchs-avoid-sanctions-2/)
A series of investigations published on June 20 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) reveals how two oligarchs from Vladimir Putin's inner circle, Boris and Arkady Rotenberg, avoid international sanctions.

This is how the Korolenko Library in occupied Mariupol looks now, after the building was destroyed by Russian forces during the city blockade. Prior to the full-scale invasion, the Korolenko Library housed over 150,000 books and served as a space for coworking, cultural gatherings, and art exhibitions.

Lower personnel losses but still a huge number of artillery systems.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 21/06/2023 10:10

Ragnar Gudmundsson
[email protected]
AT ragnarbjartur
·
14m

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JUN 21:
■artillery strikes well above average again
■ Troop losses below 7-day average
■ Double-digit drone, artillery, vehicle & APV losses
■ Milestone: 4,000+ tank losses
■ Liberated by: 250 km² this month, 41% since Feb 24, 2022 (data from LiveUAmap)

https://twitter.com/ragnarbjartur

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 21/06/2023 12:35

UNITED24 Media Telegram

NATO will take a step towards Ukraine, but will not yet provide it with a clear timetable for joining the bloc, — Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance Mircea Joane said on RFI.

🇫🇷France now supports Ukraine's membership in NATO to influence Russia, — media

🇵🇹 Portugal will soon hand over 14 more M113 armored personnel carriers and 9 towed 105-mm howitzers to Ukraine.
In total, Portugal transferred 45 machines of the M113 series to Ukraine

The Russian Federation has begun creating defensive lines near Perekop, apparently preparing for a scenario where the Ukrainian military tries to enter Crimea, the UK intelligence reports.

The Russian mass media finally confirmed the death of Major General Sergiy Goryachev in Ukraine — he was the chief of staff of the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation.

208 cases of sexual violence by Russian forces have been documented in Ukraine, including 13 against minors, the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office said on June 19. Majority of victims are women (140 cases), but actual figures are likely much higher.

🇺🇸 The potential transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will last for months, said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs Stanley Brown.
One of the first steps will be a license to train Ukrainian pilots. Brown noted that the State Department is already processing relevant requests from third countries to begin pilot training.
"What we are doing is historic. Things that used to take months and weeks are happening in a few hours," he added.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the eve of the Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine in London.

🇫🇷 This year, France will allocate an additional 40 million euros of non-refundable financial aid to Ukraine for urgent reconstruction and is also preparing a multi-year plan for assistance for civilian needs, — during the meeting, the head of the Foreign Ministry, Catherine Colonna, stated at a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

American General Electric (GE) left Russian customers without repairing gas turbines. The company made such a decision against the background of the expansion of US sanctions, which prohibit American companies from providing engineering services in Russia.
On June 19, the company stopped servicing turbines in the Russian Federation, closed access to the monitoring system, and may also stop supplying original spare parts. "Repair and replacement of nodes are most critical for the most powerful turbines, including the only H-class machine in Russia at the Kazan CHP-3,"— writes the publication.

Instead of Russian oil, Germany agreed to increase purchases from Kazakhstan by six times. During the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier's visit to Astana, the state oil and gas corporation "KazMunayGas" signed an agreement to supply Germany with 100,000 tons of oil per month from the Karachaganak field.

The Moscow court has fined the Viber messaging platform for refusing to remove "fakes about the war in Ukraine"
The amount of the fine is 1 million rubles (approx. $12 000).

According to the results of 2022, the population of Germany increased by 1.12 million people. This is a record increase since the final unification of the country in 1990, — Bloomberg.
The influx of foreigners ensured population growth. Net migration to Germany quadrupled to 1.46 million people — mainly due to refugees from Ukraine.
According to last year's results, the number of Ukrainians living in Germany increased sixfold and amounted to 1.05 million people.

The EU will offer its version of using frozen Russian assets before the "summer vacation", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Kyrylo Budanov met with the Japanese ambassador to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori. [admittedly when he looks as much as a waxwork as this, you wonder if the Russians really did manage to bump him off]

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 21/06/2023 14:30

Live: Ukraine Telegram

🇺🇸🇺🇦 The United States will provide $1.3 billion in additional assistance to rebuild Ukraine. The money will be used to repair the energy system, modernize critical infrastructure, ports, railways, help businesses, and more.

Russian Defense Minister Shoigu again threatens to strike "decision-making centers" in Ukraine if the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike occupied Crimea with HIMARS and Storm Shadow missiles.
"The Russian military leadership will regard this as dragging the United States and the United Kingdom into the war," he added.

Germany handed over two more MAN HX81 tank tractors and trailers, 6 patrol cars, a thousand 155-mm artillery rounds and an unspecified number of Vulcano shells (which can be targeted by GPS) to Ukraine.

The head of the DIU, Kyrylo Budanov, ridiculed (https://gur.gov.ua/content/zaluzhnyi-budanov-bandera-petliura-mazepa-spetszahin-bezsmertnykh-dlia-koshmarinhu-rosiiskykh-zaharbnykiv.html) Russian propaganda's claims about his "death, injury and coma."
"Now a special detachment of immortal commanders is being created in Ukraine - Valeriy Zaluzhny, myself, Stepan Bandera, Simon Petliura, Ivan Mazepa. The detachment of immortals will come in the middle of the night to the dreams of Russian citizens who sought to seize Ukraine and give them nightmares," Budanov said, adding that the "special detachment of immortals" guarantees a nervous and hysterical environment for Russians.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, storage facilities for Russian nuclear weapons are still being prepared in Belarus, and no warheads have been transported yet, intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said.

An international conference on Ukraine's recovery has started in London to attract foreign investment.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his country would provide Ukraine with $3 billion in loan guarantees over three years, and the British government announced that it would provide $300 million to support humanitarian, recovery, and reform programs.
The conference is attended by officials from 61 countries, business and non-governmental organizations.

Extremely shocking photographs from Hola Prystan taken by Reuters on June 16, 2023. [I won't post them]
Photos show bodies of dead people being taken out of flooded houses. After Kakhovka dam was destroyed, the water level in the occupied town of Hola Prystan was over 3 meters, some sources say.

Russia has mined the cooler of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Fallout could extend to Belarus, Moldova and Turkey if Russia detonates it

Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
Ukraine Invasion: Part 41
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