UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-06-22
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 22:00 on June 21 stated that day 850 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 120 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 6 missile strikes, 45 air strikes, 407 drone strikes and more than 2,300 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.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of June 22, 2024, the Russian occupiers launched a missile-air strike against critical infrastructure facilities in various regions of Ukraine, using air-, sea-, and land-based missiles, as well as "Shahed" type UAVs.
In total, the enemy used 16 missiles of various types and 13 attack UAVs:
- 10 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic aircraft (launch area – Saratov Region – Russian Federation);
- 2 "Iskander-K" cruise missiles (from Crimea);
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles (from the Black Sea);
- 13 strike UAVs of the "Shahed-131/136" type (launch area - Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russian Federation, Balaklava - Crimea).
As a result of anti-aircraft combat, 25 air targets were shot down:
- 7 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles;
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles;
- 1 "Iskander-K" cruise missile;
- 13 attack UAVs of the "Shahed-131/136" type.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: The enemy did not carry out any offensive operations in this region today.
Kupyansk axis: The enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 14 times in the vicinity of Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Berestove, Pischane and Stelmakhivka. The situation is intense.
Lyman axis: The situation is tense in this direction, The enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 6 times in the vicinity of Nevske, Novosadove, the Serebryanskyy Forest and Hryhorivka. None were successful but the battle continues. Units of the AFU was successful in advancing in some areas
Siversk axis: The enemy carried out 9 attacks in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske, Spine, Vyimka and Rozdolivka. The situation has not changed significantly. Ukrainian forces are taking actions to stabilize the area.
Kramatorsk axis: The enemy tried 12 times to push Defense Forces from occupied positions in the areas of settlements Kalinivka, Chasiv Yar, Andriyivka and Klishchievka. 4 engagements are currently ongoing.
Toretsk axis: The situation is under the control of the AFU. The enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 4 times. All were repelled
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: This continues to be the most severe area of attack.The enemy conducted 36 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Vozdvizhenko, Novooleksandrívka, Sokil, Yevhenívka and Novoselívka Persha,.
The greatest activity of the aggressor is is in the area of Ocheretyne, where two thirds of combat clashes have taken place, and currently continue
Kurakhove axis: There have been 11 enemy assaults on this front in the vicinity of Karlivka, Nevelske Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Kostiantynivka and Paraskoviivka. All attacks were repelled.
Vremika axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: The enemy made 7 attempts to breach the defences of Ukrainian forces on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Russia launches 'massive' attack on Ukrainian power grid
Ukraine says its energy facilities have come under a “massive” attack from Russia overnight, in the latest onslaught targeting the country's power grid. BBC News reports.
Air defence systems shot down 12 of 16 missiles and all 13 drones launched by Russia at several regions through the night, the Ukrainian air force said.
Later on Saturday officials in Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine said two people were killed and at least 18 injured by Russian guided bombs, with at least four explosions heard in the city.
The overnight attacks on energy infrastructure wounded two energy workers in the central Zaporizhzhia region, and damaged energy equipment in the western city of Lviv, officials added.
In the south-western region of Ivano-Frankivsk, the authorities also reported damage to houses and a kindergarten.
Saturday night's attack is the second to target energy infrastructure this week.
On Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said seven employees were wounded and energy infrastructure, including a power station, had been damaged in a major overnight attack.
Ukraine is buying energy from the European Union, however, this is not enough to make up the deficit. This means that most days involve a planned nationwide blackout to protect critical infrastructure such a hospitals and military facilities.
"We urgently need to close our skies or Ukraine faces a serious crisis this winter," the chief executive DTEK, of one of Ukraine's largest private energy companies, Maxim Timchenko said.
Casualties mount in Russian strike on Kharkiv
According to the state emergency service of Ukraine, as a result of the Russian strike on Kharkiv, three people were killed and 29 others were injured. UNN reports.
Long-Suffering Kharkiv. The enemy continues to destroy civilian infrastructure. People lose their lives, health, and loved ones. Updated data as of 17:00: due to the Russian strike on Kharkiv, three people were killed today, 29 more were injured
- Reported by State Emergency Service.
It is noted that from the first minutes, more than 250 rescuers and police officers worked at the places of hits at different addresses. Public utilities and volunteers help to sort out the rubble, provide assistance to victims.
Below are some photos from State emergency Services:
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RUSSIAN WORLD
Russian court sentences a 15-year-old student to 5 years in prison
A Moscow Military Court has sentenced Arseny Turbin, a 15-year-old schoolboy, to five years in prison after finding him guilty of participating in a terrorist organisation. Radio Liberty reports.
According to the investigation and the FSB, a teenager from the city of Livna, Oryol region, was engaged in "the dissemination of propaganda materials of an extremist orientation on the instructions of the curators of the Ukrainian paramilitary association" Legion of Freedom of Russia ", in particular - "laid out leaflets on the mailboxes "with the image of Vladimir Putin and the signature" Do you need such a president?".
The criminal case materials also say that Turbin was "engaged in politics" and "ideology of liberalism", as a result of which he "does not approve of the policy of Vladimir Putin and does not support the war in Ukraine". In addition, he "formed the view that there is no freedom of speech and independent media in the Russian Federation," "lawlessness and corruption".
According to Turbin’s mother, the FSB claims that the leaflets depicting Putin were provided to her son by representatives of the Russian Freedom legion, asking them to “execute their order to produce and distribute documentary materials.”". At the same time, the schoolboy himself says that the image was in the public domain on the Internet, that no one gave him instructions, and that he laid out leaflets, guided by his personal convictions.
Grumpy here - So let me get this strait. A Russian court sentenced a 15 year old to five years in prison for treason - because he said there is no freedom of speech in Russia…
Putin Russian purge expands to FSB
Sergei Beseda, the head of the 5th Service of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), a unit responsible for gathering intelligence on Ukraine on the eve of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, has been replaced. According to Russian state propaganda sources.
They reported that Alexei Komkov, formerly the deputy head of Russia's counterintelligence service, has taken over Beseda’s position as chief of the FSB's 5th Service.
The FSB's 5th Service deals with intelligence gathering inside Russia and in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Russian leader Vladimir Putin relied heavily on information provided by this particular FSB unit when deciding to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the media outlet noted.
Shortly after the invasion began, it became evident that much of the intelligence provided by the 5th Service was inaccurate. The article says the Russian authorities were confident that Russian forces would not face serious resistance on their way.
Sources report there is a fierce struggle within the FSB between various power groups for several high-ranking positions to be vacated this year, including Bortnikov's own, " the article says. [referring to FSB Director Aleksandr Bortnikov.]
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Criminal group that sold Ukrainian women into sexual slavery detained in Spain
Spanish police have arrested a criminal group involved in the selling of women for sexual exploitation. Most of the victims were Ukrainians. Europol reported.
The group consisted of a Spanish citizen and two citizens from Russia and Ukraine. Currently, 14 victims are known, according to Europol.
It is noted that the detainees found the victims via the Internet and introduced themselves as managers of employment agencies. They offered them jobs as hostesses and cleaners, as well as good salaries, paperwork and work permits.
But the suspects did not fulfil their promises. They then used the women to provide sexual services in a nightclub in Almería (a city in southern Spain – ed.) It is known that a significant number of the victims are Ukrainians, as well as citizens of Belarus. They were persecuted on ethnic grounds, Europol added.
"The victims were accommodated in three homes provided by the same individual who managed the nightclub. By isolating the victims from the rest of society, the traffickers attempted to minimise the risks of police detection or the escape of the women, allowing them to restrain, control and fully exploit the victims."
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons in Russia not limited to near Kharkiv, Pentagon says
Ukraine can use U.S.-supplied weapons to hit Russian forces that are firing on Ukrainian troops anywhere across the border into Russia and not just in Russian territory near Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Reuters reports.
Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters that while there had been no change in policy, Ukraine's use of weapons against Russian troops was not limited to near Kharkiv on the Russian side.
"The ability to be able to fire back when fired upon is really what this policy is focused on... as we see Russian forces firing across the border, the ability for Ukraine to fire back at those ground forces using U.S.-provided munitions," Ryder said.
"It's self-defense and so it makes sense for them to be able to do that," he added.
Ryder's remarks echo comments made by Biden's national security adviser earlier this week.
"This is not about geography. It's about common sense," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border."
Russians Use Kh-101 Missiles with Cluster Warheads to Attack Ukrainian Airfields
Russian forces used 10 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles during a missile attack on Ukraine on the night of June 22. 10 Kh-101/ Kh-555 cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers from Saratov Oblast. Seven missiles were destroyed by Ukrainian air defence. Defense Express reports.
At the same time, Defense Express learned from its own sources that at least one Kh-101 missile had a cluster warhead. This missile is new and was produced in the second quarter of 2024. This missile was used by russians to attack the airfields and was shot down by Ukrainian Air Defense Forces.
It is noted that the cluster warhead of such a missile can contain approximately 60 "balls" (the submunition has an index of 136b3), the weight of one is approximately 4400 grams.
The difference between the cluster element for the warhead of the X-101 cruise missile is that its body has the shape of two hemispheres with a fuze on one of them. For example, the submunition for the Kh-59 missile is spherical, with the fuze located on the side.
It is extremely important to shoot down such missiles in advance to avoid the damage to the airfields by such submunition given the arrival of the F-16 aircraft to Ukraine this year.
That’s it for today’s Draft folks if you would like to keep up with events in Ukraine daily please consider subscribing, its free!
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