NU.nl regularly gives you an overview of the situation in Ukraine. With this time: Russian air raids on Ukraine have killed several people. And Ukrainian troops claim they have recaptured parts of the country.
At least 11 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky. At least 28 others have been injured, 12 of them in hospital.
The death toll from last week’s dam breach at Kherson is mounting. At least ten people have been killed on the Ukrainian bank of the Dnipro. On the side occupied by the Russians, the number of fatalities stands at seventeen.
The Ukrainian counter-offensive has now been going on for about a week. According to sources, the intensity of the attacks is comparable to that at the start of the war. That there are losses on both sides is certain, but otherwise a lot is unclear.
Ukraine claims recapture of four villages
For example, the Ukrainian troops claim that they are gaining more and more ground. They are said to have recaptured four villages in the Donetsk region. But the fighting on the front lines continues.
Ukraine says it has made progress at Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. In addition, the Ukrainian flag would fly again in Storozhov, which is located in the Poltava region.
Russia has not confirmed the taking of these places, and news agency Reuters has not yet been able to verify the information. Several Russian military bloggers do confirm the capture of Blahodatne and Neskuchne. According to them, there is still heavy fighting in Makarivka.
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Putin admits own lack of preparation for offensive
While Ukraine says it is regaining ground, Russian President Vladimir Putin says the counter-offensive “fails on all sides”. For example, he claims that Ukraine loses ten times as many soldiers as Russia.
Putin sprinkled all kinds of figures in his speech at a meeting with correspondents and soldiers. For example, the Ukrainian army is said to have lost more than a quarter of its Western vehicles in the war. He stated that those Western arms transfers “contrary to international law”.
About his own arsenal, he said that Russia has too few precision weapons and drones. Still, according to him, no further mobilization is necessary. That could change in the future, if Russia’s goals change, Putin said. “If we are going to try to conquer Kyiv again, more forces must be called up.”
Putin acknowledged that Russia should have been better prepared for attacks on Russian territory. The border region of Belgorod in particular has recently been hit by drones and ground attacks by Russian anti-Putin groups.
Dutch intelligence knew about sabotage plan Nord Stream
The Dutch military intelligence service MIVD had heard about the Ukrainian plans to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline through a source in Ukraine. This is evident from research by the NOS, News hour and the German media The time in ARD.
After the report, the MIVD informed the American intelligence service CIA about the plan that should have been implemented in June. The CIA then urged Ukraine not to blow up the gas pipeline.
The sabotage was canceled in June, but it still happened in September. That happened according to the NOS in much the same way as the MIVD would have heard from its source in Ukraine.
Putin wants Wagner mercenaries to sign contract
Putin said on Tuesday he wants all mercenaries fighting in Ukraine to sign contracts with the defense ministry before July 1. Putin wants that because it will give him more control over the Wagner Group, which will then be able to work more closely with the Russian commandos.
But Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has emphatically refused. It would become more difficult for him to build his own political and military influence. He was able to do this for months while receiving equipment and ammunition from the army.
Putin’s intervention may put Prigozhin in a difficult position, as the ministry has said those contracts are required to join the fight.
0:45US comes again with huge support package for Ukraine
The United States is coming up with a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth about 300 million euros. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken says it is the 40th package for the Ukrainians.
According to US media, the package consists of anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition, anti-tank weapons and armored vehicles.
Andriy Yermak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Zelensky, thanks the US on Telegram for its support.
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2023-06-13 18:11:00
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