UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-06-10
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 23:00 on June 9 stated that day 841 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 73 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 53 air strikes, 529 drone strikes and 2888 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.
Our Air and Missile and Artillery units have since the beginning of this day targeted three personnel and military equipment concentration areas, one PPO, two artillery devices, an occupant radio station and a military warehouse.
Air Force Daily Report
Ukraine ready for Swedish Gripens: infrastructure in place, says aviation chief
Ukraine’s infrastructure is ready to accommodate Swedish Gripen fighter jets, according to General Serhii Holubtsov, Chief of Aviation of Ukraine’s Air Force said in an interview with Radio Liberty. He emphasised that Swedish aircraft are designed to operate from ordinary roads, eliminating the need for specialised takeoff and landing surfaces.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft that has been designed with versatility in mind. It is formally classified as a fighter jet, but in reality it is a multi-role aircraft capable of performing various tasks.
“These jets will be very, very simplified for us in the sense that the infrastructure for them is already suitable [in Ukraine]. This aircraft was produced according to the Swedish strategy of dispersion. That is, it can use ordinary roads. It does not require any specialized surface, and it uses the entire range of Western weapons. In other words, everything that can be used on the F-16s can also be used on the Gripens,” Holubtsov said.
While prioritizing F-16s, Ukraine has submitted requests for Gripens. However, Sweden paused its plan to transfer them to avoid interfering with the coalition effort to provide F-16s.
“The F-16 was offered first. We are now working on the F-16, building the infrastructure for it… The Gripen is in second place for us. And all requests to Sweden have also been provided. It’s just that this process is not a priority now, but we are considering the possibility of obtaining these aircraft,” Holubtsov added.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were 5 unsuccessful Russian assaults in the vicinity of Hlyboke, Lyptsi and Vovchansk
Kupyansk axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Lyman axis: There were two enemy attacks in the vicinity of Petrivske and Terny. The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Siversk axis: Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked Ukrainian positions near Vyimka
Kramatorsk axis: 9 combat engagements took place on this front. Russian invaders showed the greatest activity in the Ivanivske area, but all attempts of the enemy to improve their position were unsuccessful.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: Russian invaders 27 times attacked Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka, Sokil, Novopokrovske, Novoselivka Persha, Yasnobrodívka and Karlivka, all attempts of the enemy to improve their position were unsuccessful.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy attacked our positions in the areas of Paraskovíivka and Krasnogorivka 8 times. Seven attacks done. A battle is ongoing in the area of Krasnogorivka. The situation is under the control of Defense Forces.
Vremika axis: The situation remained without significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to breach Ukrainian defences near Mala Tokmachka
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.
Ukraine strikes multiple anti-aircraft missile complexes in occupied Qirim
On the night of June 9 - 10, The Defense Forces of Ukraine struck anti-aircraft missile complexes of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Qirm. The GSAFU stated in their morning report.
At night the AFU launched successful strikes on one C-400 anti-aircraft missile division of the occupiers in the Dzhankoy district, as well as two enemy anti-aircraft missile divisions C-300 near the Black Sea and Evpatoria.
“None of our launched missiles were intercepted by an enemy’s “highly effective” anti-air defense.”
In particular, in the specified areas, after the strikes of Ukrainian missiles, an immediate suspension of work of radar complexes was recorded
In addition, secondary detonations of ammunition and fuel in all three areas of the positions of the anti-aircraft missile units has been noted.
Russia resorts to patrolling Black Sea with submarines
Following the sinking of several dozen Russian ships by Ukraine’s Defence Forces, Russians has begun using submarines to monitor the Black Sea waters. There are now four submarines patrolling the Azov-Black Sea region. Dmytro Pletenchuk, Head of the Strategic Communications Centre of the Defence Forces of Ukraine's South reported
"In the Black Sea they [Russian forces - ed.] perform tasks with submarines now. They have already formed a practice when in the morning these submarines replace each other… In total, they have four submarines in the Azov-Black Sea region, of which three are carriers of cruise missiles. Two submarines periodically go to sea."
According to Pletenchuk, "the forces of the Russian Federation decided that it is safer in the Sea of Azov, and are now trying to organise a training process for their ships there."
He added that there are three Russian big landing ships in the Sea of Azov, as well as three additional small missile ships of the Buyan-M class. These vessels "made the transition from the base in Novorossiysk."
Pletenchuk also stated that "to protect their ships in the Sea of Azov from Ukrainian drones, the Russians are building structures such as barges and background fences."
According to him, the Sea of Azov is fairly shallow, hence there are only a handful of things they can do: "They (Russian vessels) mix with civilian vessels. They're attempting to use it to complicate our work."
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Zelenskyy: “We are doing everything to ensure that US leadership is felt”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during his daily address on June 9 intensified efforts to finalise a bilateral security agreement with the United States , as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to strengthen its defence through Western alliances .
Ukraine has secured similar agreements with about 10 Western nations, but finalising the US pact has taken longer.
“These days, we are also engaged in detailed preparations for a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the US. We are doing everything to ensure that America’s leadership is felt. I am grateful to everyone who is helping,” Zelenskyy stated.
Speculation ties the signing to July’s historic NATO summit in Washington, marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary. However, Ukraine’s primary goal remains securing a NATO membership invitation.
Zelenskyy also highlighted ongoing talks with European partners, notably Germany, for additional support.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian air strikes hit targets inside Russia and a Russian ship in the Sea of Azov
SkyNews reported on June 9 that a Ukrainian warplane has for the first time fired a weapon that struck a target inside Russia, a Ukrainian military source has told Sky News.
The source said a "Russian command node" was hit on Sunday in the area of Belgorod, western Russia Belgorod is a city close to the border with northeastern Ukraine.
It was not immediately clear what type of munition was used in the attack, including whether or not it had been a Western weapon.
The United States and France recently said the Ukrainian armed forces were permitted to use their arms to strike military targets inside Russia - from where Russian forces are launching attacks against Ukraine.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the military source told Sky News:
"A Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) mission has struck a Russian command node in Belgorod. Whilst damage assessment is still occurring, it is confirmed as a direct hit. This is the first UAF air-delivered munition delivered against a target within Russia."
The Ukrainian military source also said that on Saturday evening, Ukrainian forces conducted a "coordinated strike" against a Russian landing ship that had recently moved to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea.
The vessel has become the fifth of seven Ropucha-class landing ships to be sunk or "rendered unserviceable" by Ukrainian attacks, the source said.
"This successful strike shows the Russians they cannot operate with freedom either in the Black Sea or eastward. By thwarting Russian shipments of ammunition and key military supplies this strike will directly support Ukrainian troops in their ongoing fight," the source said.
The Russian military uses such ships to ferry ammunition and supplies to the occupied city of Mariupol for onward transit to the frontline, according to the source.
Russians report drone attack in Kursk Oblast: 2 administrative buildings damaged
Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Russia’s Kursk Oblast, has stated that the oblast had been attacked by drones, resulting in damage to two administrative buildings.
"In the evening and at night, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted to attack the border areas of Kursk Oblast with drones. They used the entire arsenal available: kamikaze drones, quadcopters, and a heavy eight-rotor octocopter. Early reports indicate that two administrative buildings have been damaged – in the city of Sudzha and the village of Korenevo."
The acting governor states that there are no casualties. He claimed that they destroyed "eight Ukrainian drones" using small arms and electronic warfare equipment.
A BBC report states that nearly 20,000 Wagner mercenaries died in the taking of Bakhmut
Nearly 20,000 Russian mercenaries died fighting for Wagner Group during the Battle of Bakhmut, an investigation by BBC Russia and Mediazona published on June 10 has found.
The outlets obtained documents shortly after the death of the group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023, detailing the posthumous payments to relatives of those killed fighting in Ukraine between January 2022 and August 2023.
"This document contains more than 20,000 names of those killed," Mediazona writes, adding: "Most of the Wagnerites died in the 'Bakhmut meat grinder' – more than 19,500 people."
The numbers roughly confirm the number claimed by Prigozhin himself in May 2023 when he said he had lost more than 20,000 men in the fight for the town.
Prigozhin's Wagner began to bring tens of thousands of convicts from Russia's prisons into its ranks, including those convicted of rape and murder, during the group's main recruitment drive in late 2022.
Used in combination with the more professional and experienced Wagner units, the prisoners proved to be highly effective as an expendable assault force.
Their main success was the capture of Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk Oblast now razed to the ground, in May 2023 after a months-long battle.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Putin plans trip to North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin will reportedly visit Vietnam and North Korea soon, the state-controlled media outlet Vedomosti reported on June 10, citing Alexander Matsegora, Russia's ambassador to North Korea, and other diplomatic sources. The Kyiv Independent reports.
With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.
Despite the increasingly strong alliance, Putin has not visited North Korea since 2000, when he met with previous North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.
Matsegora said that Putin is "actively preparing" for the trip, but did not specify exactly when it would occur.
Another source told Vedomosti that Putin will also visit Vietnam, perhaps as soon as in June, and likely after his trip to North Korea.
MILITARY & TECH
French Mirage 2000-5s supplied to Ukraine will be modified to carry SCALP cruise missiles.
As a follow up to his announcement on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron elaborated on Friday that France hoped to involve Qatar, Greece and the UAE who all possess fleets of Mirage 2000-5 and even further derived Mirage 2000-9s in supplying aircraft to Ukraine. La Tribune reported.
The article speculated that France has only 6 Mirage 2000-5 that it could part with at the moment which would explain Macron’s statement regarding seeking a consortium of operators of the Mirage 2000-5 to transfer to Ukraine.
Entering service in 1998 France mostly used the Mirage 2000-5 in the air superiority role but other countries as fighter bombers.
Curiously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made a stop in Qatar on June 5 before participating the next day in the commemorations celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Macron’s announcement on Friday helped clear up that mystery.
While in France, Zelenskyy met Friday with Dassault Aviation. Sources say the French manufacturer intends to carry out the modifications to any Mirage 2000-5s not already capable of it to carry the SCALP- EG.
Finally, the 25 Greek Mirage 2000-5s also appear very attractive, because they are already equipped to carry these missiles, which greatly annoy Vladimir Putin. They are capable of destroying high value-added objectives.
Ukraine to test homegrown guided bombs in “a few weeks”
Ukraine is developing its own guided bombs to counter Russia’s intensifying aerial attacks, with testing set to begin within weeks, said Chief of aviation of Ukraine’s air force, Gen. Serhii Holubtsov in an interview with Radio Liberty.
“We are developing Ukrainian guided bombs by modifying conventional unguided bombs. This involves selecting the right wing, GPS, and control modules. Initial tests will start in a few weeks,” Holubtsov told RFE/RL.
He added that currently, the Ukrainian Air Force is using Western-made precision-guided munitions (PGMs): GBU-39 and GBU-62 of various calibres. These are highly effective but limited in quantity.
Meanwhile, Russia is actively employing guided aerial bombs in its attacks on Ukraine. These bombs were used intensively during the Russian offensive on northern Kharkiv Oblast and against the city of Kharkiv.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia drops over 3,000 domestically-produced guided aerial bombs on Ukraine every month.
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