Ukraine Invasion: Part 57

[MagicFox]

Welcome to 57. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlight

In the Odesa region, Russian forces destroyed an emergency medical aid station.
As a result of the attack, seven ambulances were put out of service—six of them were heavily damaged, and one was completely destroyed by fire.
According to the regional administration, the station served Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and four nearby villages, covering a total population of around 65,000 people.

I think that outside of Iranian proxies, they'll be dancing and handing out sweets. The Saudis and the Syrians will undoubtedly be pleased.

I agree. We lost a lot of deterrence under Biden. I think that this establishes it again.

Certainly we don't want an open ended war in the middle East but demonstrations of U.S. defensive capability will be a manifest warning to Putin of he looks to eye up the Baltic states in future. Maybe Putin will imagine Russian assets being in the same position as Iranian ones and short of nuclear war decide there is no future victory here?.

I agree again. Putin knows the US can't be counted on to cower in the corner as Biden did, and the US has some decisive military capabilities.

I wonder if this will also be a warning to China.

Bombing Israel and defending Taiwan are two different kettles of fish, but all the same.

Personally I can’t see anything good coming from this.

I don't know. War is a horrible thing but we could see a decrease in Russian influence and evidence they are maybe an irrelevance in the middle east? I think the Iranian foreign minister is going to Moscow at some point but what can Putin offer?

if things go well for the US and Israel maybe there will be a greater onus on Ukraine with a less isolationist US as it certainly seems some of the hawks has Trumps ear?

https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi-russia-vladimir-putin-us-strikes-nuclear-sites/

Iran's foreign minister heading to Russia. We'll see how far Russia will back its close ally.

What do we think? I can’t see them getting entangled but you never know.

There was a post on a previous thread that Peskov had said something about other countries giving the Iranian govt nuclear weopons but no idea if that's genuine. Could be a false report, and if it's true it could be more Russian PR crap.

Having said that I could see it being a good tactic to ensure that the world concentrates more on Iran and the utter mess that can escalate there, allowing Russia more of a free hand in Ukraine and longer term the Eastern European countries, but on the other hand giving the Iranian govt the nuclear bomb is something that might backfire badly including on Russia itself. I suspect it's the sort of thing that Putin would do only if he believed Russia was in danger of losing its own territory or being destroyed, which fundamentally it isn't.

Yes I think it’s true, although Peskov isn’t exactly known for his true and rational statements these days.

Checking in as I constantly lose these threads. Slava Ukraini

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-22-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russia condemned the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22 amid reports that Iran's foreign minister will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 23.
• Iran's possible decision to close the Strait of Hormuz will cause a significant spike in global oil prices, which would greatly economically and financially benefit Russia by reversing months of declining Russian oil revenue and allowing Russia to continue to finance its war against Ukraine in the medium term.
• Russian forces have continued to pursue long-standing operational objectives on the battlefield in Ukraine throughout Spring and Summer 2025 and will likely remain committed to these objectives for the coming months.
• Russia's intensified force generation efforts appear to be generating a reserve force that Russia will be able to leverage in Ukraine or against NATO in the future, despite current limitations on Russia's offensive capacity in Ukraine.
• The Kremlin continues to promote rhetoric designed to undermine Ukrainian legitimacy and sovereignty, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to the complete destruction of Ukraine.
• Kremlin officials are leveraging the Russian education system to indoctrinate children into the mythos of the Soviet Union's role in the Second World War and create a centralized state ideology that will shape generations in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine, likely to justify a protracted war in Ukraine and a future military conflict against the West.
• Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Sumy oblast. Russian forces advanced near Novopavlivka.

Kyiv Independent:

⚡️ Ukraine destroys 80% of Russian drones despite air defense missile shortage, Syrskyi says.

Ukraine needs to have many times more surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft missile systems to ensure reliable defense of cities and critical infrastructure facilities, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

⚡️ Amid its war against Ukraine, Russia condemns US strikes on Iran as 'violating international law.'

Moscow condemned on June 22 the recent U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of international law and Iran's sovereignty, a statement in stark contrast to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

⚡️ Over 450 draft officers, staff transferred in response to reported abuses, Ukraine's military chief says.

The Ukrainian military leadership aims to overhaul the draft office system amid numerous reports of abuses since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told journalists on June 21.

⚡️ Ukraine evacuates 176 citizens, foreigners from Israel ahead of US strikes on Iran, Zelensky says.

The foreign nationals evacuated by Ukraine included citizens of the U.S., Moldova, Latvia, Azerbaijan, and Estonia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️ Zelensky slaps new sanctions over business activities in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the sanctions are targeting "those who cooperate with the (Russian) occupier on our land," as they "help justify the aggression, consider it normal to make money in the occupation, and pay taxes" to Russia.

⚡️ Trump could free all Belarus's political prisoners 'with a single word,' released oppositionist Tsikhanouski says.

"President Trump now has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus with a single word. And I ask him to do so, to say that word," Siarhei Tsikhanouski said in his first press conference after his release.

⚡️ Iran's top diplomat to meet Putin in Moscow after US air strikes on nuclear sites.

"We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said with reference to Russia.

⚡️ Russia preparing military operations in Europe, Zelensky says, citing intelligence.

"We are observing a continued intellectual decline within the Russian leadership and have evidence that they are preparing new military operations on European territory," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️ Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility, casualties reported.

"Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded," the Ground Forces said, adding that greater personnel losses were avoided thanks to the timely security measures taken when the air raid alert was issued.

⚡️Ukraine calls for an end to Iran’s nuclear program in wake of US strikes.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on June 22 that Iran’s nuclear program must be dismantled to prevent it from threatening the Middle East and other states, including Ukraine, following U.S. air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“We assert that it is precisely the aggressive actions of the Iranian regime and its long-standing destructive policy aimed at undermining international peace and security – including its hostile attitude toward Israel and many other nations – that have led to the current developments,” the ministry said in an official statement.

⚡️Update: 3 killed, 14 wounded as Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility.

Russia launched a missile attack on June 22 on the training ground of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade, where military personnel were being trained, the Ground Forces reported.

⚡️Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko released after more than four years of Russian detention.

Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko was released on June 20 after more than four years of detention in Russian-occupied Crimea, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

Yesypenko, a freelance contributor to Crimea.Realities, a regional project of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, reported on various issues in Crimea before being detained by Russia’s FSB in March 2021.

⚡️Explosions reported in Kyiv.

Several explosions were heard in the capital overnight on June 23, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Air defense systems have been engaged in the city, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported.

⚡️Russia launches drone attacks on Kyiv, injuring 2.

Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kyiv overnight on June 23, local officials reported. Two people have been reported injured.

⚡️Norway to invest $400 million in Ukraine's drone, air defense missile production.

Norway will invest $400 million in Ukraine’s defense industry to support drone production, President Zelensky said on June 22. The two countries also agreed to jointly produce air defense missiles.

⚡️Zelensky expected to speak at Council of Europe parliamentary session next week.

President Zelensky is expected to address the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly on June 26 during its summer session in Strasbourg, though his attendance has not been confirmed. The session agenda includes discussions on Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

⚡️Deputy PM Chernyshov returns to Ukraine as questions mount amid corruption probe.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov returned to Ukraine on June 22 following his official trip abroad amid media speculations connecting Chernyshov's absence to an ongoing corruption investigation.

⚡️Update: Russian mass missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 6, injures 25.

Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding region overnight on June 23.

🔹 These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of June 23, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Live:Ukraine

🔹 Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi shared several updates during a media briefing:

▪️The frontline has expanded by 200 kilometers over the past year and now stretches approximately 1,200 km.

▪️Ukrainian forces control about 90 km² of territory in Russia’s Glushkovo district (Kursk region) — described as preemptive actions in response to potential Russian offensives.

▪️The Ukrainian military will not remain in static defense and is combining defensive and offensive operations: “We attack where we identify weaknesses in the enemy’s defenses.”

▪️Ukrainian troops recaptured the village of Andriivka in Sumy region and advanced 200 to 700 meters near Yunakivka over the past week.

▪️Russia is reinforcing its army at a rate of 8,000–9,000 soldiers per month. Given this trend, Syrskyi stated that mobilization in Ukraine should not come as a shock to citizens.

▪️By the end of 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will complete the transition to a corps-based command structure, allowing for faster decision-making and greater battlefield autonomy at the brigade level.

🔸 Russia is preparing new military operations on European territory, and Ukraine has evidence of this, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported following a briefing from Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov.

“We will inform our partners about the facts uncovered by our intelligence. We are preparing joint defense measures together with the United Kingdom and the European Union,” the president wrote.

🔹 Belarusian opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski, released on June 21, has declared his full support for Ukraine and President Zelensky.

“I had a business, offices in Moscow and Kyiv, and a company in Lithuania — that’s it. I was never pro-Russian, that’s a lie. Our common enemy is the Putin regime. Until it collapses, there will be no victory in Belarus,” he said.

Commenting on his 2017 trip to Russian-occupied Crimea, Tsikhanouski explained that he “was not a politician at the time and wasn’t thinking in political terms,” adding that he “traveled there as a pilgrim.”

🇪🇸 NATO Agrees on Goal to Spend 5% of GDP on Defense by 2035 — With a Loophole for Spain

All 32 NATO members have agreed on a summit communiqué ahead of next week’s meeting in The Hague, which includes a collective goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, according to Reuters, citing diplomats.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had previously blocked an earlier draft, approved the final version after a key change in wording — from “we commit” to “allies commit.” This linguistic shift allowed Sánchez to argue that the commitment does not apply to Spain.

“We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defense investments, but we are not going to do that,” he stated.

🇺🇦🇳🇴A Ukrainian office of Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has officially opened.

Kongsberg is best known for producing the NASAMS air defense system, and according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, “new solutions” based on NASAMS are being developed to protect both civilian and critical infrastructure.

Broader projects are also planned in the areas of interceptor production, strengthening air defense, and maritime security.

🔹 President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s latest wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities, calling out Moscow’s silence following its own use of Iranian-made drones and missiles against civilian infrastructure.

“After the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, there was a lot of noise from Moscow — the Russian leadership publicly condemned ‘missile and bomb actions.’ Today, Moscow is silent after its own army launched a completely cynical attack using Russian-Iranian Shahed drones and missiles against civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities and communities,” Zelensky wrote.

In Kyiv alone, six people were killed, and five residential buildings were damaged. In Bila Tserkva, a drone struck a hospital, killing one person. In total, targets were hit in four regions, and emergency services are still clearing rubble.

🔸 During his visit to the United Kingdom today, Zelensky is expected to discuss Russia’s terror tactics and defense measures with Ukraine’s partners.

🔹 Russia carried out a massive overnight attack on Ukraine, launching 368 aerial weapons, including drones and missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

354 enemy targets were neutralized.

The breakdown includes:

about:blank 🔴352 attack UAVs, including Shahed drones and decoy drones of various types (up to 160 were Shaheds);

about:blank 🔴11 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles;

about:blank 🔴5 Iskander-K cruise missiles.

The main target was Kyiv. There were direct hits at 6 locations, while debris fell in 25 areas across Kyiv city and Kyiv region.

Of the 354 intercepted targets:

— 158 were shot down by firepower;
— 196 were lost due to electronic warfare or failed navigation.

All 5 cruise missiles were shot down. Of the 11 ballistic missiles, 7 were destroyed, while 3 were electronically suppressed or lost.

🇳🇴Norway will finance the development and production of naval surface drones on Ukrainian territory.

This year, Oslo allocated around €576 million to support the Maritime Coalition, and part of that funding will go toward surface drone projects. The initiative will be supported by Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, a company known for its high-tech defense solutions.

If anyone has time and energy there's a shill on another thread, worth reporting

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5359517-the-us-has-bombed-fordow-and-other-sites?page=24

^rainingsnoring · Today 14:04

Yes, it's correct that renewables are heavily subsidised and are far less energy dense than FFs. We should have invested in nuclear a couple of decades ago when we became a net energy importer. This really is a major problem for the UK now, and one without a solution, especially after they have been heavily involved in the conflict with Russia. That was a major strategic error for Europe- look at Germany now.^

Are you saying this person is a shill for the nuclear power industry? There is some truth to what they are saying.

@DucklingSwimmingInstructress

I gave you a thumbs up over there for your measured response before checking in here..

For several days now there's been an almost constant stream of misinformation or just downright lies being put out to fool the gullible, mostly in the ME related threads....

I had some of it down as student union level posturing or a wish to be "edgy"/part of the crowd but some posts have been so well constructed but so missleading it's hard not to suspect something sinister is going on at times.

Zelenskyy arrives in Britain for talks with King Charles, PM Starmer, meeting with military personnel

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived to Britain to discuss Ukraine’s defence and how to put additional pressure on Russia, his presidential spokesman said, as reported by Reuters.

Zelenskyy will meet King Charles, prime minister Keir Starmer and the speakers of both Houses of Parliament, the spokesman said.

He added that the president would also talk to Ukrainian military personnel who are being trained in Britain and representatives of think-tanks.

Guardian source

@MissConductUS Not the nuclear industry no. But that poster from the start of the thread has been pushing the Meirsheimer line and an anti-West line, with the usual tactics of avoiding any evidence that goes against the picture they are drawing, attempts to draw people into conversation that is basically time wasting (and they'll only ignore any other evidence anyway) and a consistent and oddly over-determined to keep posting at any cost.

I don't think they are genuine. There are too many aspects of their behaviour over the course of the thread that are in common with the shills in the early years on this thread, once you observe them over the many pages.

Looking at the initial readout of the Iran/Putin meeting it seems to be a load of nothing word salad. No firm commitment, certainly to military support (below from Sky). Any thoughts from others?

“After meeting with Vladimir Putin, Iran's foreign minister has said he had a good meeting with the Russian leader, Russia's state news agency RIA reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Abbas Araghchi discussed developments in the Middle East in detail, with a particular focus on steering the regional situation toward a peaceful resolution.
As we reported earlier, during their meeting today Putin condemned the "unprovoked aggression" towards Iran.
He also said the strikes on the country had "no basis and no justification."
He added that Russia - one of Iran's key allies - was making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people.”

Point very nicely made on that thread, @DucklingSwimmingInstructress & @notimagain .

They do seem to have shown themselves up as being desperate not to admit to Russia having made an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

(And I feel you've done enough to stop, if you prefer not to get sucked into a slanging match, as that poster seems to be angling for.)

I think that at this point you're probably right - their inability to acknowledge what's going on speaks for itself.

Thanks..

And yep, agree someone's angling for a fight - I'm done there and have bugged out..