UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-06-04
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 3 stated that day 835 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 124 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 6 missile strikes, 37 air strikes, 359 drone strikes and 2100 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.
Defense Missile Forces and artillery attacked 5 enemy personnel concentration areas, 4 PPOs and 1 artillery system during the day.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of June 4, 2024, the enemy attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with two Iskander-K cruise missiles launched from the territory of occupied Crimea. Both missiles were shot down by anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force in Dnipropetrovsk region.
In addition, close to midnight, the enemy used four unmanned aerial vehicles (type to be established) in the northern direction. Two were destroyed by units of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces in Chernihiv region, two more ceased to exist independently.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 6 times over the last day in the vicinity of Lyptsi and Vovchansk. 5 attacks were repelled, the other is ongoing. The situation is under control.
Sixty Russian soldiers captured near Vovchansk
The AFU captured about 60 russian soldiers near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast during counter attacks. This was reported to LIGA.net by the spokesman of the Khortytsia operational-strategic grouping Nazar Voloshyn. The incident took place on June 2. But fighting is still ongoing in the city.
On the same day, The GSAFU reported that Ukrainian troops had controlled 70% of the city. At the same time fierce fighting is taking place in the city and on the outskirts.
Kupyansk axis: The situation remains tense in the districts of Berestove and Stelmakhivka, where 2 clashes are ongoing. The enemy's attempts to advance towards Sinkivka, have failed. The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: The situation has not changed significantly.
Siversk axis: Russian forces made 24 attempts to breach Ukrainian defences in the areas of Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Ivano-Darivka, Verkhnokamianske and Viymka. 15 attacks have already been repelled by defenders, 9 clashes are still ongoing. Defence forces are taking measures to stabilise the situation.
Kramatorsk axis: Over the last day Russian forces attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines in the vicinity of Kalynivka, Ivanivske and Klishchievka.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 35 times in the areas of Zelene Pole, Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovsk, Novoselivka Persha, Kalynove, Netailove and Nevelske. 26 attacks were carried out by our defenders. The situation remains tense, nine clashes are still ongoing.
Russia makes minor gains in the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector
The UK Ministry of Defence in its June 4 Intelligence Update stated that the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector remained the probable main effort of Russian forces over the last 72 hours.
Russian forces made minor gains in the northern part of this sector toward the villages of Sokil and Yevhenivka. On a parallel axis, approximately 3km further south, Russian forces are likely approaching the outskirts of the village of Novoselivka Persha.
Further south Russian forces have made no significant gains despite heavy attacks against Ukrainian positions west of the village of Netailove, astride the E50 highway, the update said.
In addition, Russian attacks against the village of Nevelske have reportedly been repelled and the village likely remains in Ukrainian hands.
"Over the next week this sector is likely to remain an area of significant operational focus as Russian forces attempt to maintain operational tempo in the face of heavy losses," the report concludes
Kurakhove axis: Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 10 times over the last day in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka and Vodiane.
Vremika axis: The situation has not changed significantly.
Orikhiv axis: the situation has not changed significantly, the battle is ongoing in the area of Mala Tokmachka. Losing positions is unacceptable, the situation is controlled by our defenders.
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
Investigation into Kharkiv Incursion continues
Oleksandr Udovychenko, First Deputy Director of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) has said the criminal investigation into the ease with which Russia was able to cross the border and penetrate so deeply into Ukraine is continuing. So far 104 individuals including the country's top military leadership are contributing to the investigation. Interfax Ukraine reports.
Udovychenko said that in order to get to the truth a number of classified documents had to be reviewed which takes time as access to them must be applied for.
Ukraine has power outages in all oblasts after Russian attacks on energy infrastructure
Despite receiving electricity imports and emergency assistance from European countries, Ukrenergo emphasized that these measures are not enough to maintain balance in the energy system due to the extensive damage caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants. Euromaidan reported.
Ukraine’s energy system is experiencing a power deficit, with energy consumption limits for industrial and residential consumers in place for all oblasts on 4 June, according to Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator, Ukrenergo.
Ukrenergo noted that the main reason for the restrictions is the damage caused by six Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants.
The power deficit is slightly higher than the previous day due to increased air conditioning consumption, clouds that affect solar power plants, and reduced electricity imports from EU countries.
Ukrenergo relies on imports and emergency assistance from European countries to address the power deficit, with recent electricity imports from Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Moldova. However, the company emphasised that these measures are insufficient to maintain balance in the energy system due to the extent of the damage.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defence battery in Belgorod region l with HIMARS
The US think tank The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its June 3 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defence battery in Belgorod Oblast likely with HIMARS on June 1 or 2.
Geolocated imagery published on June 3 shows two destroyed launchers and a damaged command post of a Russian S-300/400 air defence system in a field east of Kiselyovo (just north of Belgorod City).
Russian sources widely speculated that Ukrainian forces used US-provided HIMARS, but Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the strike.
The S-300/400 air defence system was located roughly 60 kilometres from the current frontline in northern Kharkiv Oblast and over 80 kilometres from Kharkiv City, which is within the range of HIMARS but exceeds the range of other MLRS systems that Ukrainian forces reportedly use to conduct strikes into Belgorod Oblast.
Russian sources have increasingly claimed that Ukrainian forces are using HIMARS to strike Belgorod Oblast since the US partially lifted its restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use US-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russian border areas with Kharkiv Oblast.
Russian sources will likely continue to characterise any successful strike in Belgorod Oblast as a HIMARS strike regardless of the system used.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend global peace summit in Biden's place
The White House announced on June 3 that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the upcoming global peace summit to be held on June 15-16 in Switzerland. The Kyiv Independent reported.
The announcement comes a few days after it was reported President Joe Biden would likely miss the event as it clashes with a campaign fundraiser he is set to attend alongside, among others, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jimmy Kimmel. The White House's statement effectively confirmed that Biden would not be attending.
"The Vice President will underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s effort to secure a just and lasting peace, based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principles of the U.N. Charter,"
The statement also said U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would be attending.
Ukraine's use of German weapons to strike Russia will not 'contribute to escalation,' Scholz says
Ukraine's use of German and other Western-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia will not "contribute to escalation," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Antenne Bayern radio station on June 3. The Kyiv Independent reports.
Berlin has long opposed lifting the ban on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to target Russia, but reversed course at the end of May amid growing calls from Western leaders to lift the restrictions.
A German government spokesperson told Deutsche Welle on May 31 that Ukraine can use German-supplied weapons to hit legitimate targets in Russia. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later clarified that the decision applied to the area around Kharkiv, which has been the centre of a renewed Russian offensive in recent weeks.
The statement from Scholz was the first time the chancellor publicly commented on the government's decision.
"We are certain that it will not contribute to an escalation because—as (U.S. President Joe Biden) has also described—it is only a matter of being able to defend a large city like Kharkiv," Scholz said.
In the past, Scholz has repeatedly cited a fear of escalation as among the principal reasons for limiting Germany's support for Ukraine.
Biden said, he is not ready to support Ukraine joining NATO
US President Joe Biden during an interview with Time said he believes that NATO membership is not a necessary guarantee of peace in Ukraine.
"Peace looks like a guarantee that Russia will never, never, never, never, never occupy Ukraine. And that doesn't mean they are part of NATO. This means that we have relations with them as with other countries, where we supply weapons so that they can defend themselves in the future, "explained the American leader.
Biden stressed that the West cannot allow Ukraine to fall, because it would destabilise every country that borders Russia, from the Balkans to Belarus.
MILITARY & TECH
Italy to send Ukraine second SAMP/T air defence system, foreign minister confirms
Italy will send Ukraine a second SAMP/T battery, the only European-made air defence system that can intercept ballistic missiles, the country's foreign minister said on June 3.
Speaking in an interview with RaiRadio 1, Antonio Tajani said it was "an instrument of air defence, therefore of protection, that Ukraine itself asked us for." He did not say when the system would arrive in Ukraine.
Ukraine has asked international partners to deliver more air defence in the wake of an increase in Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure since March, and devastating aerial attacks in Kharkiv Oblast.
SAMP/T is a capable Italian / French air defence system similar to the Patriot and IRS/T systems that fires the ASTER missile. Its range is believed to be somewhat less than that of its contemporaries.
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