Russo-Ukraine War - 08 June 2022 - Day 105
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On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]
One hundred and fifth day of the heroic opposition of the Ukrainian nation to the Russian military invasion continues.
The war is being fought on three fronts. The capture of Severodonetsk is the strategic goal of the Russians, but their offensive remains stalled. Next, they want to attack Lisichansk and cut off communication routes, and then move on from there to continue the offensive in the Donetsk region. The Russians have concentrated their forces on this central front, reducing troop concentrations on the Northern and Southern fronts. On the Northern front at Kharkiv, Ukrainian forces continue to advance against the Russians. Likewise, on the Southern front, Ukrainian forces continue to advance against Russian forces holding Kherson.
Ukraine should remove mines from its ports or create corridors to export grain that has been delayed due to the fighting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after meeting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Lavrov added that Russia would not use the crisis to gain military advantage and would "take all necessary steps to ensure that the ships can leave there freely." Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "direct and indirect sanctions against Russia must be lifted" in order for Russia's grain shipments to reach global markets.
But several Ukrainian officials dismissed the proposal, saying that de-mining seas around Ukraine's ports would leave them open to attack. Ukraine considers the promises of the head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov on the guarantee of safe Ukrainian grain exports by sea as "empty words" and does not believe that Russia will not use this situation to attack Ukraine, said the spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleh Nikolenko. "To protect the coast, weapons are needed, and a navy mission is needed to patrol export routes in the Black Sea. Russia cannot be allowed to use the grain corridors to attack southern Ukraine", Nikolenko said.
Russian special services are sending threats to Ukrainian soldiers. In private messages, they demand that the military should lay down their weapons, surrender or go to the enemy's side under the threat of missile attacks on homes or their families' places of residence, the Ukrainian army said. The enemy sends threats via SMS and via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber or Signal messengers. In order to give credibility to their actions, the Russians sometimes add threats to, inter alia, soldier's place of residence. These data, however, have long been out of date, according to the Ukrainian general staff.
Russia is currently not willing to negotiate in good faith, and real talks on ending the war in Ukraine are still far away, said Karen Donfried, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia. The representative of the US State Department also admitted that maintaining the unity of the West in the face of Russian aggression is a challenge, especially in the face of economic effects and rising oil prices. However, she assured that solidarity would be maintained due to the fundamental threat to Europe and the present order and rules the Russian invasion is.
Andriy Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, criticized former German Chancellor Angela Merkel following an interview she gave for the first time six months after leaving power. Melnyk said Merkel offered "not a hint of self-criticism" and added, "The ex-chancellor's remarks about the infallibility of her Russia course and her far too lenient treatment of Russian dictator President Vladimir Putin are disconcerting," he told news agency dpa. Merkel defended her approach toward Russia during her time in office during the interview at the Berlin Ensemble. "Diplomacy isn't wrong just because it didn't work," Merkel said. She added, "I don't see why I should have to say that it was wrong and I won't apologize for it."
Some fear France and Germany are keen for Ukraine to cede territory to end the fighting – although no public statements from Paris or Berlin support this argument. "The French president is still looking for ways to save war criminal Putin from humiliation," the head of the foreign affairs commission in the Estonian parliament, Marko Mihkelson, wrote on Facebook. "What would Macron say to this girl in Ukraine?" he asked next to a photo of a girl with an amputated leg. "And to the thousands of others whose lives have been destroyed forever as victims of the evil empire."
"Putin will only negotiate when his army can't keep marching forward, humiliated or not. Macron should focus on creating that condition," former US ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, wrote. John Chipman, the head of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think-tank, said that "saving face" was "a weak diplomatic aim. Putin can take personal responsibility for his face."
The UK Ministry of Defence reports that Russia continues to attempt assaults against the Sieverodonetsk pocket from three directions although Ukrainian defences are holding. It is unlikely that either side has gained significant ground in the last 24 hours. While Russia is concentrating its offensive on the central Donbas sector, it has remained on the defensive on its flanks. Ukrainian forces have recently achieved some success by counter-attacking in the south-western Kherson region, including regaining a foothold on the eastern bank of the Ingulets River. With the frontage of the occupied zone stretching for over 500km, both Russia and Ukraine face similar challenges in maintaining a defensive line while freeing up capable combat units for offensive operations. In the occupied Kherson region, Russia is forcibly aligning its administration with that of the Russian Federation by introducing the Russian rouble as legal tender and employing Russian teachers to introduce the Russian curriculum and language to schools.
In some sections of the front near Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine, the Russian forces have a tenfold advantage over us in terms of armaments, informed the spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Oleksandr Motuzjanyk. In the east of Ukraine, the Russian army conducts heavy chaotic fire from Lisichansk, it controls most of Severodonetsk, informs Serhiy Hayday, head of the authorities of the Luhansk region in which both cities are located. The Russians control most of Severodonetsk, fights are taking place in the streets of the city - said Hajdaj. He added that the neighboring Lisichansk is under full Ukrainian control. Russian troops are firing heavy and chaotic fire at the city, the housing infrastructure has been enormously damaged. The damage is great due to the fact that large-caliber weapons are used.
Ukrainian troops only control the outskirts of Severodonetsk, informed the head of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Haydai in an interview published for the RBK-Ukraine portal. The governor assessed the situation in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine, as very difficult. He added that for the Russian forces the seizure of the city is essential, "because they have lied that they fully control it, and in fact, there are fighting in the city." "That's why they throw all their reserves there and strike with whatever they have," said Hajdaj. He acknowledged the difficulties in Sievierodonetsk, telling The Associated Press "maybe we will have to retreat, but right now battles are ongoing in the city." He said Ukrainian forces were fighting "for every centimeter of the city." He indicated they could pull back to positions that are easier to defend. The city across the river, Lysychansk, sits on higher ground.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that Russian troops have not achieved a breakthrough against Ukrainian forces in Donbas. "The situation on the front has not undergone any significant changes in the past 24 hours," Zelensky said. He added that "the extremely heroic defense of Donbas continues." Ukraine's president said that the fiercest fighting was continuing around Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and Popasna.
The former president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has returned to the country, reported the Ukrainian Pravda portal. Poroshenko has been abroad since May 30, previously he was twice turned back from the border with Poland when he tried to leave the country. Ukrainska Pravda cites a Facebook post by Sofia Fedyna, a member of the Ukrainian opposition party, European Solidarity, of which Poroshenko is chairman. He is to go first to Kiev and then to the front line. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in the Volyn and Polissya directions, as part of the next stage of checking the combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus, individual units are being moved to permanent locations. In the northern direction, the Russians continue to provide enhanced protection of the Ukrainian-Russian border in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. He fired mortars at civilian infrastructure in the areas of Khodyne, Ryzhivka and Velyka Pisarivka in the Sumy region. In addition, the Russians carried out provocative flights of army aircraft along the state border of Ukraine.
In the Slobozhansky direction, the Russians concentrated efforts on maintaining the occupied frontiers. Carried out attacks of civil infrastructure in areas of settlements of Uda, Nursery, Rtyshchivka, Ivanivka, Husarivka and others. In the Severodonetsk direction, the Russians fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Privilege, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Voronovo, Toshkivka, Gorske and others.
In the Slavic direction, the Ukrainian military successfully resists the enemy's attempts to improve the tactical position in the direction of the city of Slavyansk. The Russians are concentrating their efforts on preparations for further offensive operations. The Russians fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of Volny, Adamivka, Dolyna and Tetyanivka. Inflicted an air strike on Slavyansk. Ukrainian soldiers are conducting defensive hostilities in the area of Dovgenke.
In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians fired artillery at areas of the settlements of Komyshuvakha, Vrubivka, Mykolayivka, Semigorye, and New York. Russians assault and army aircraft launched air strikes near Nova Kamyanka, Pokrovsky and Klinovy. Defenders of Ukraine inflicted significant losses on the Russians in manpower and equipment during the Russians assault near Berestov. The fighting continues.
In the Avdiivka, Kurakhiv, Novopavliv and Zaporizhzhya areas, the Russian occupation forces fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Kamyanka, Avdiivka, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Vuhledar, Mykilske and others. The Russians also used assault aircraft near Marinka and Kamyanka. The situation in the South Bug area remained without significant changes. The Russians are trying to hold ground and prevent the regrouping and strengthening of units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. They used artillery in the areas of Velyka Kostromka, Lyubomyrivka and Novomykolayivka, and assault and army aircraft - in the areas of settlements Alexandrovka, Knyazivka and Novodanylivka.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians continue to carry out measures of the administrative and police regime, conduct searches of civilians, loot and destroy local infrastructure. Ukrainian defenders inflict losses on the Russian in all areas where active hostilities continue, and are steadfast in their defense.
The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, during a briefing spoke about the course of clashes between the Russian army and the Ukrainian army during yhe special operation of the Russian Armed Forces. According to him, over the past night, high-precision missiles hit an armored plant in the Kharkov region. In addition, two command posts, 13 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment and a battery of multiple launch rocket systems "Uragan" were hit, four warehouses with weapons and ammunition, as well as a fuel storage facility for the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.
Russian aviation hit 63 such areas and destroyed the command post of the 14th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, eight tanks, two Grad MLRS, an artillery battery, an electronic warfare station and 13 vehicles for various purposes.
Artillerymen and missilemen hit 68 command posts, 172 artillery firing positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including two batteries of the Smerch MLRS, a battery of the Uragan MLRS, as well as 261 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, four ammunition depots, nine armored vehicles, three Grad MLRS installations, 15 field artillery guns and mortars, 14 special vehicles, as well as combat vehicles of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems in the Shelkoplyasy and OSA- AKM. Russian air defense systems managed to shoot down two MiG-29 aircraft, a Mi-8 helicopter and 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Norwegian Defense Ministry said that it had sent 22 howitzers, including spare parts and ammunition, to Ukraine. "The Norwegian government has waited to publicly announce the donation for security reasons. Future donations may not be announced or commented upon," the ministry said in a statement. Previously, Norway has sent anti-tank weapons, an air defense system, and thousands of units of basic equipment like helmets and bullet-proof vests to Kyiv, as well as contributed to a military aid fund.
Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the head of the President's Office, said that Ukraine needed 60 Western-style MLRS to have a chance of defeating Russia in the war: "If we get 60 such systems, the Russians will lose any opportunity to move somewhere, they will be stopped. If we get 40, they will move forward, albeit very slowly, with heavy losses; out of 20, they will continue the offensive with greater losses than now."
"So far, the United States is handing over only 4 HIMARS installations to Ukraine. The United Kingdom plans to provide us with similar M270 missile systems. But we need at least by Soviet standards those HIMARS regiments 5. The jet regiment is three divisions, and in a division at least 12 installations, 12 on 3 - 36. Here and consider: 180 MLRS have to have that real influence. Yes, we hope this is the beginning. Well, we see from the realities - so it is that first a small amount is given, then they are not ashamed to give the rest, "- said artillery expert Petro Pyatakov.
The Chief of Staff of the 336th Marine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet, Colonel Ruslan Shirin has officially been de-Nazified, the official website of the Ukrainian Army's Office of Strategic Communications reported. Colonel Ruslan Shirin is "another Russian colonel received an invitation from Kobzon" [a pro-Russian singer who died in 2018 - ed.]. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has already lost about 31.5 thousand. soldiers, including about 140 in the last 24 hours, announced the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the past day, Russia also lost a helicopter, 3 tanks, 13 armored vehicles, 9 artillery systems, 6 multi-rocket launchers and 6 drones.
Zelenskyy claimed that 31,000 Russian soldiers have lost their lives in Ukraine since the invasion began. "Since February 24, Russia has been paying almost 300 lives a day for a completely pointless war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. The figure could not be independently verified. "And still the day will come when the number of losses, even for Russia, will exceed the permissible limit."
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