UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-06-02
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily, much of which forms the basis of the script. While the Podcast is on hiatus I will make this Draft available here both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 10:00 on Jun 2 stated that it was day 833 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 98 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 7 missile strikes, 43 air strikes and 4000 shellings across the positions of our troops.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continue to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
Russian Losses for May 2024
We here at The Peoples Media have been reporting on the GSAFU’s Morning report since last year. We record all of the reported Russian losses each day.
Russian Losses for the month of May were eye opening.
Personnel– 38,900
Tanks - 428
APC - 875
Artillery - 1,117
MLRS – 34
Air Defence systems- 34
Aircraft - 9
Vehicles – 1,787
Special equipment - 144
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of June 2, 2024, the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-K cruise missile from Crimea in the direction of the Kharkiv region, an S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile from occupied Donetsk region, and 25 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs from Cape Chauda (Crimea), Yeisk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk districts - Russian Federation.
The strike was repelled by fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and radio-electronic warfare equipment was involved.
During the night, defenders of the sky shot down 24 Shaheds in the Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Vinnytsia regions.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were no enemy assault in this area over the last day, but intensive artillery attacks and air strikes ensued
Kupyansk axis: There were 4 Russian attacks in this region over the previous day. The situation is under control
Lyman axis: The situation on this front has not experienced significant changes.
Siversk axis: There have been 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions over the previous day, the situation is under control.
Kramatorsk axis: In this region there were 4 unsuccessful Russian attacks supported by aviation.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: The situation in the Pokrovsk direction remains tense. Since the beginning of the day, there are already 23 combat encounters here. The enemy is trying to thwart our aviation-backed defences. 14 attacks our warriors fought off, nine still ongoing.
Kurakhove axis: There were 19 attacks in this direction over the past day 13 were repelled by Ukrainian defenders and 6 are still ongoing in the vicinity of krasnogorívka, konstantinívka and vodânogo
Vremika axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 4 Russian assaults. The situation remains under control.
Orikhiv axis: The situation on this front has not experienced significant changes.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: Russian forces assaulted Ukrainian defences on the left bank of the Dnipro in the vicinity of Krynky 3 times over the previous day, with air support. All attacks were repelled.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
IMF, Ukraine reach agreement at staff level on fourth revision of EFF program
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff-level agreement (SLA) on the fourth review of the 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, Ukraine would have access to about US$2.2 billion (SDR 1,669.82 million). Interfax Ukraine reports.
“The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff-level agreement (SLA) on the fourth review of the 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. All quantitative performance criteria were met, and structural benchmarks for the review were either met or implemented with a short delay,” a press release posted by the Foundation on Friday evening reads.
According to it, agreements were also reached on an updated set of economic and financial policy measures to maintain macroeconomic stability and promote economic reforms.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Nothing to report.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Zelenskyy Exposes China’s Role in russian Arms Assembly
Ukrainian intelligence has revealed that components of weapons from China are making their way into the russian market, alongside parts from other countries found in russian weaponry. Defense Express reports.
This information was reported by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a media interaction at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore.
“Various intelligence agencies, including Ukrainian, have detected signals indicating that elements are reaching the russian market through China. We have observed components of Chinese origin in russian weapons,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.
He also noted that russian weaponry includes parts from other countries worldwide. However, this does not imply that these countries are deliberately selling weapons to russia.
“There is a solution to this issue. We share all intelligence data with our international partners. When we identify a product from a specific country that ends up on the russian market despite sanctions, we inform our partners to help prevent such transit,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained.
Volunteer Fundraisers in Prague attacked by Russian-speaking foreigners.
In the centre of Czech Prague, volunteers collecting donations for Ukraine near the Prague Maidan stand were attacked by two Russian-speaking foreigners. Radio Prague International reports.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, June 1, was highlighted by a video posted by one of the volunteers on social media.
The video shows how a man and a woman who spoke Russian are trying to attack volunteers. At some point, a man speaks German with a Russian accent claiming that he was German.
Prague Maidan is one of the largest Ukrainian non-profit organisations in the Czech Republic, which has been actively helping Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Italy confirms Vladimir Zelensky's participation at the G7 summit
Italian prime minister Georgia Melanie has confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take part in the G7 summit, which will be held on June 13-15 in the city of Brindisi in southern Italy. UNN reports.
Meloni confirmed the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the G7 summit. However, she did not specify whether the Ukrainian leader will be in Italy personally, or will join via video link.
At the same time, the official noted that at least fifteen countries and international institutions are invited to the summit, except for the leaders of the group members and the Pope.
Macron permits Ukraine to strike Russian airfields in Belgorod, Kursk with French Scalp missiles
A French officer who wishes to remain anonymous told BBC news that France has provided Ukraine authorisation to strike Russian air force bases in Kursk and Belgorod regions
Zelenskyy says he had a 'Very good' meeting with US defence secretary in Singapore
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter that he had a "very good" meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on June 2.
According to a post from Zelensky on social media, the pair discussed "the defence needs of our country, bolstering Ukraine's air defence system, the F-16 coalition, and drafting of a bilateral security agreement."
He also said “I am grateful to @POTUS for making an important decision regarding defensive strikes with American weapons on the enemy territory to effectively counter Russian attempts to expand the combat zone. We appreciate the vital defence and political support for Ukraine from the United States.”
MILITARY & TECH
Germany Provides Ukraine with Another Patriot System and €500 Million Aid Package
The German Foreign Ministry announced it will provide Ukraine with another Patriot air defence system and additional military aid worth €500 million.
The German Federal Foreign Office announced this on Twitter, citing Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, she emphasised that the EU countries must maintain steadfast support and commitment to Ukraine.
"Strengthening Ukraine's air defence remains crucial. Recently, Germany has pledged another Patriot system and an additional €500 million. In NATO, we uphold the principle of "one for all, all for one." Putin's brutal aggression against Ukraine and his provocations at the EU’s and NATO’s external borders demand our unwavering unity," the minister added.
Ukraine uses FPV drones to intercept Russian spy drones
Ukraine has begun actively using First-Person View (FPV) drones to intercept Russian reconnaissance drones. Defence Blog reports.
In the past few days, there have been reports of Ukrainian FPV drones successfully downing three ZALA drones and one Orlan drone. These Russian drones were conducting surveillance and adjusting artillery fire, as well as directing Lancet suicide drone strikes.
Intercepting drones with other drones is a relatively new and promising approach in air defence development.
Currently, Ukraine faces a significant shortage of air defence systems and cannot shoot down all Russian reconnaissance drones, which have started to penetrate hundreds of kilometres into the country. Using moderately priced FPV drones appears to be a pragmatic and innovative solution.
These drones provide a cost-effective method for countering enemy surveillance and strike capabilities, particularly when traditional air defence systems are in short supply.
US Intelligence Agency reveals proof that Russia has used North Korea missiles to attack Ukraine
The US Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released a report providing evidence that North Korean missiles have been used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The report is based on data gathered through open sources about the KN-23 ballistic missiles the russian federation used against Ukraine in January–February 2024.
The published document is only 12 pages long but it testifies that photographs alone are enough to identify and confirm that in specific instances the russian invasion forces operating in Ukraine utilised none other than KN-23s provided by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
As this report makes clear, the DIA analysts took for the basis of their investigation publicly available materials, namely the videos North Korean state-run media agencies released for propaganda purposes, demonstrating missile production. Then, the experts compared the reference with photos of missile wreckage found in Ukrainian cities after russian shelling. Notably, these photos showing only some undamaged fragments of the KN-23 hull were quite enough to make conclusions.
One revelation from the report is that it appears that the warhead of the missile is 1000Kg, not as previously supposed 500Kg.
Russia introduces a new spy drone made from foam
IRT (Integral Robotic Technologies) a russian company unveiled its new IRT-Scout reconnaissance drone at the so-called Comprehensive Security international exhibition. This hand-launched drone features a distinctive foam body. Defense Express reports.
According to russian media, the developers highlighted that the foam body lowers production costs and simplifies field repairs. The drone is powered by an electric motor, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 90 km/h. It has a range of 50 km, an endurance of one hour and a payload capacity of 200 grams. No further details were provided about the drone’s specifications.
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