UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-06-17
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 June 16 stated that day 844 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.
During the past day, 118 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 47 air strikes, 423 drone strikes and more than 4000 artillery strikes across the positions of Ukrainian forces.
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.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 10:00 on June 17 stated that day 845 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.
During the past day,123 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 2 missile strikes, 45 air strikes, 428 drone strikes and more than 3500 artillery strikes across the positions of Ukrainian forces.
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.
Over the past day, the aviation of the Defense Forces has hit 10 areas of concentration of the enemy's personnel.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: The enemy twice attacked Ukrainian forces in Vovchansk. The fighting is ongoing
Kupyansk axis: Fighting is ongoing in the vicinity of Pischane. The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: The Enemy actively attacked Ukrainian positions near Makiivka, Torske and Hryhorivka. The situation is under control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Siversk axis: The enemy assaulted Ukrainian defence forces in the vicinity of Vyimka and Rosdolivka
Kramatorsk axis: The enemy attacked Ukrainian defensive positions twice near Klishchiivka.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: The enemy made 14 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions with heavy fighting going on in the area of Novooleksandrívka, Yevgenivka, Novoselívka Persha, Umanske. The enemy has suffered significant losses.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy four times assaulted Ukrainian defence forces in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka and Paraskoviivka. All attacks were repelled.
Vremika axis: The situation has not undergone significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy unsuccessfully tried to push Ukrainian soldiers out of occupied positions in the areas of Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: The situation has not undergone significant changes.
AFU has been hunting Russian air defence systems in Qirim
In the last two months, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have affected about 15 Russian air defence systems in the temporarily occupied Crimea. unian.ua reported on June 17.
This was reported by "Stratcom AFU" in Telegram. "The total number of separately affected air defence systems is about 15. In particular, affected air defence divisions in modifications S-300, S-350, S-400. Dozens of launchers of these systems were destroyed, more than 15 radar stations, more than 10 control points, "the statement said.
ExecutionThe Armed Forces showed an infographic of air defences of the Russian occupiers in the temporarily occupied Crimea over the past two months. The report says that our soldiers continue to destroy the Russian occupiers and are approaching the day of liberation of Ukrainian Crimea.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine's international bond rework derailed with little time left
Ukraine has not been able to reach an agreement with a group of bondholders over restructuring some $20 billion of international debt during formal talks, it said on Monday, raising the spectre that the war-torn country might slip into default. Reuters reported on June 17.
An agreement with holders of international bonds that allowed Ukraine to suspend payments after Russia's invasion of the country in 2022 ends in August.
Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said talks would continue and he expected the government to reach an agreement by Aug. 1.
Formal talks with bondholders have been underway for nearly two weeks, as Ukraine seeks to rework its debt in order to retain access to international markets while meeting International Monetary Fund (IMF) demands to restructure.
Marchenko said the country's economy was a "fragile balance" that hinged on consistent and substantial support from its partners. "Timely debt restructuring is a critical part of this support," he said. "Strong armies must be underpinned by strong economies to win wars."
Ukraine could seek to extend the payment suspension beyond August, but prefers the more lasting solution of a full debt rework.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian drones attack metallurgical plant, other facilities in 3 Russian regions
Ukrainian "kamikaze" drones attacked a metallurgical plant and other facilities used for military purposes in Russia's Belgorod, Voronezh, and Lipetsk oblasts overnight on June 17, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.
The confirmation came after Russian governors reported drone attacks on three regions, claiming there were no damage or casualties.
One of the targets was the Novolipetsk metallurgical plant and a local tractor plant in Lipetsk Oblast, according to the source.
"Both enterprises are used by the aggressor for military purposes. In the area of these facilities, local residents heard the sounds of explosions and air defence systems," the source said.
Information about the consequences of the attack is being clarified, the source added.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Mixed results from Ukraine Peace Summit
Western powers and their allies at a summit in Switzerland denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Sunday, but they failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement, and no country came forward to host a sequel. Reuters reported on June 16.
Over 90 countries attended the two-day talks at a Swiss Alpine resort at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, billed as a "peace summit" even though Moscow was not invited.
Russia ridiculed the event from afar. A decision by China to stay away all but assured that the summit would fail to achieve Ukraine's goal of persuading major countries from the "global South" to join in isolating Russia.
Brazil attended only as an "observer". And in the end, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa all withheld their signatures from the summit communique, even though some contentious issues were omitted in the hope of drawing wider support.
Still, the conference provided Kyiv with a chance to showcase the support from Western allies that it says it needs to keep fighting against a far bigger enemy.
"We are responding to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only with a full-scale defense of human life, but also with full-scale diplomacy," Zelenskyy said.
Leaders including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron gathered at the mountaintop resort of Buergenstock. U.S. President Joe Biden, in Europe for other events last week, did not attend despite public invitations from Zelenskyy.
78 states, organisations sign Ukraine peace summit’s joint communique
Seventy-eight countries, including Ukraine, and four European institutions signed the final joint communique of the Switzerland peace summit on June 16, the Kyiv Independent reported.
The countries notably absent from the list of signatories include India, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Indonesia, Bahrain, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
Representatives of around 100 countries and organisations gathered at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland on June 15-16 to discuss a possible way toward peace and other key concerns related to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.
Russia was not invited to attend.
Brazil, present as an observer in the list of 92 confirmed participant countries shared by the Swiss Foreign Ministry on June 14, has also not signed the communique.
The organisations that signed the document are the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukrainian pilots learn to fly jet fighters in France
France has revealed that he French Air Force has committed itself to certifying the training of 26 Ukrainians over two years. Ukrainian pilots are trained in the hangars of an air base in southwestern France, the name of which is not disclosed for security reasons. Le Monde reports.
According to the publication, there are no F-16 fighters at the air base on which pilots have to fly in Ukraine, but there are several Alpha jets that have been obtained through Franco-Belgian cooperation.
"The advantage of these aircraft is that they are equipped with a dashboard that mimics the F-16 panel - Belgian troops fly the F-16 and train at the base with these aircraft until 2018", - writes the publication.
The Alpha Jet is an advanced trainer used by a number of European Air Forces to train new fighter pilots.
It was previously reported that Romania will pay for the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. The country's Ministry of Defense will cover the costs of training, food, transport, fuel, special equipment and other related goods and services.
At the same time, Politico wrote that conflicts arise between Ukraine and the West through the training of pilots on the F-16. Kyiv is demanding partners to expand the program, but allies say Ukrainian pilots are not yet ready to fly en masse on the F-16. It has been claimed that 30 pilots are being announced in Ukraine who can start training in the United States immediately. However, the administration of President Joe Biden told Kyiv that its training program in Arizona does not have enough space to accommodate more than 12 pilots at a time.
Latvia hands Ukraine first batch of UAV’s as part of drone coalition
The government of Latvia donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine the first batch of unmanned aerial systems purchased as part of the "Drone Coalition" and has already prepared another consignment. Ukrinform reports.
This was announced by Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds, who spoke in an interview with ArmyInform, Ukrinform saw.
"Latvia has prepared a batch of drones and they have already been sent. Now we are already collecting the second batch of drones, which is soon to be sent to Ukraine," Spruds said.
In general, according to the minister, Latvia, which along with the UK co-leads the "Drone Coalition", committed to contribute this year EUR 20 million as part of the initiative.
"At the same time, when we count those countries that have already made commitments, it is more than EUR 500 million, more precisely, EUR 549 million already vowed by member states, partners within the framework of the Drone Coalition. So, the next step is to use this funding effectively, and we are doing it on several levels," Spruds said.
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