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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 08.06.2023 Ukraine MOD 08 Jun 2023
• Russian Forces Shell Kherson Shortly After Zelenskiy Visit To Areas Hit By Flooding RFE/RL 08 Jun 2023 -- Russian forces shelled the Kherson area shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on June 8 visited the southern region where rescue teams are working to save thousands of people trapped by catastrophic flooding caused by the rupture of a major dam on the Dnieper River.
• As Ukraine Assesses Flood Damage After Dam Breach, IAEA Says Nuclear Plant Still Getting Cooling Water It Needs RFE/RL 08 Jun 2023 -- The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine is still receiving water needed to cool its reactors despite the rupture of the Kakhovka dam, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on June 8 as Ukraine assessed the damage caused by flooding and as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed activists about the environmental impact.
• Latest in Ukraine: Kyiv's Long-Awaited Counteroffensive Under Way VOA 08 Jun 2023 -- Ukraine on Thursday appeared to be launching its long-anticipated counteroffensive to try to recapture land in the eastern and southern parts of the country that Russia seized in the earliest weeks of the war more than a year ago.
• Around 600 sq km in Ukraine's Kherson region submerged by floodwater from destroyed dam: Governor Press TV 08 Jun 2023 -- Around 600 square kilometers of Kherson region in Ukraine has been submerged by floodwater caused as a result of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, the regional governor says.
• Statement by the Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu Russia MoD 08 Jun 2023 -- Today at 1.30 a.m. in Zaporozhye direction, the enemy made an attempt to break through Russia's defence by forces of the 47th Mechanised Brigade numbering up to 1,500 men and 150 armoured vehicles.
• Russia tells UN court Ukraine shelled Kherson dam Press TV 08 Jun 2023 -- Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the bursting of the Soviet-era Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which sent waters cascading across the war zone of southern Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing tens of thousands to flee.
• Telephone conversation with Acting Governor of the Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo President of Russia 08 Jun 2023
• Shoigu: Ukraine Loses 350 Troops After Failing to Break Russian Defense Sputnik 08 Jun 2023 -- Up to 1,500 Ukrainian military attempted to break through Russian defense lines on Wednesday night, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday.
• DPR Head Pushilin Reveals How Far Kiev's Forces Must Be Pushed Back From Russia's Border Sputnik 08 Jun 2023 -- Civilians in Russia's territories bordering Ukraine, like the Belgorod Region, have also been suffering shelling attacks and incursions by Ukraine's forces. Russian troops repelled three Ukrainian cross-border attacks in the Belgorod Region on June 4, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Putin Controlling Situation in Kherson Region After Destruction of Kakhovka HPP - Kremlin Sputnik 08 Jun 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is keeping the situation in the Kherson Region under control after the sabotage at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russian Officer Accuses Wagner Group Of Abductions, Torture Of Russian Military Personnel RFE/RL 08 Jun 2023 -- Russian Colonel Roman Vinivitin, who was captured by Wagner fighters in eastern Ukraine issued a video on June 8 accusing the private mercenary company of abducting Russian armed forces personnel and torturing them.
• Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoygu makes a working visit to the troops of the Western Military District Russia MoD 08 Jun 2023 -- At the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoygu inspected the preparation of hardware and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation.
• Pacific Fleet detachment resupplied water and fuel in off-shore maritime zone Russia MoD 08 Jun 2023 -- A Russian Pacific Fleet detachment made up of vessels Gromkiy and Sovershenniy replenished water and fuel supplies from an auxiliary vessel. Medium-sized marine tanker Pechenga resupplied both ships.
• Meeting with Governor of the Orel Region Andrei Klychkov President of Russia 08 Jun 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Orel Region Governor Andrei Klychkov to discuss the region's socioeconomic development.

Foreign Policy

• Press release on electing non-permanent UN Security Council members for 2024-2025 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 08 Jun 2023
• Türkiye's Erdogan discusses Ukrainian crisis with Putin People's Daily 08 Jun 2023 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone talk with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and discussed the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
• Russia points finger at 'Anglo-Saxons' in 2022 Nord Stream blasts Press TV 08 Jun 2023 -- The Kremlin says the United States and some of its allies were aware of a Ukrainian plan last year to blow up the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines that connect Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
• Russia's Putin, Saudi crown prince discuss bilateral ties, cooperation within OPEC+: Kremlin Press TV 08 Jun 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have discussed cooperation within the OPEC+ and bilateral ties between the two countries.
• Council of Europe leaders profoundly concerned about Russia's non-execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including the non-payment of just satisfaction Council of Europe 08 Jun 2023 -- The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has reiterated the Russian Federation's unconditional legal obligation to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and to pay 'just satisfaction' awarded by the Court.
• Council Of Europe Envoy Calls Russian Rights Defender Oleg Orlov's Trial 'Travesty Of Justice' RFE/RL 08 Jun 2023 -- The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic has called the trial of Oleg Orlov, a leader of the liquidated Memorial Human Rights Center in Moscow, over the alleged discrediting of Russian forces involved in Kremlin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine "a travesty of justice."
• China-Russian trade jumps by 51.9% from Jan-May amid strong partnership, high complementarity and local currency settlement Global Times 08 Jun 2023 -- Chinese and Russian trade have witnessed a remarkable growth of 51.9 percent from January to May, as indicated by data from China's General Administration of Customs on Wednesday. Both imports and exports have experienced double-digit growth, highlighting the strong partnership and high complementarity between the two countries.

News Reports

• Russian Trade Rises Despite Sanctions, as NATO Member Turkey Offers 'Critical Lifeline' VOA 08 Jun 2023 -- Despite Western attempts to stifle Russia's economy through sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine last year, Russian trade volumes with dozens of countries have actually increased since the war began — with NATO member Turkey providing a "critical" economic lifeline for Moscow, according to an analysis by the Washington-based Atlantic Council.
• Kazakhstan Seeks 'Image,' Investors At Forum Amid The Demise Of 'Russia's Davos' RFE/RL 08 Jun 2023 -- Two international forums this month -- one in Kazakhstan and the other in Russia -- have very different messages.