Sunday, June 18

Russia’s war against Ukraine

People look at displayed weapons, intercepted missiles, and other variety of items left by Russian soldiers in different regions of Ukraine during their invasion, in Mykhailivskyi Square on June 17 in Kyiv. (Photo by Roman Pilipey/Getty Images)

Putin lies about invasion, children abductions to visiting delegation of African leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely told a visiting delegation of African leaders that international rights are on his side, and it is Kyiv that started a war against Russia in 2014.

Kremlin spokesman claims Ukraine largely ‘demilitarized.’ Kremlin press secretary Dmitriy Peskov claimed that Russia’s goal of “demilitarizing” Ukraine was largely completed, saying that it was using “fewer and fewer of its own weapons” and increasingly relying on weapons provided by the West.

NYT: Evidence suggests Russia blew Kakhovka dam. An investigation published by the New York Times on June 17 indicated that an explosive charge in a passageway running through the dam’s concrete base detonated and destroyed the structure on June 6.

General Staff: Russian forces fail to advance in the east, conduct 37 airstrikes across Ukraine. Russian forces tried to advance toward the towns of Kupiansk, Lyman, Avdiivka, Marinka, and Shakhtarsk in eastern and southeastern Ukraine but failed to make any headway on June 17, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

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Podoliak: African leaders came to Ukraine to ask for suspension of Putin’s arrest warrant. The African leaders’ delegation that came to Kyiv on June 16 to present a peace plan was mostly interested in suspending Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s arrest warrant, Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said.

Russian governor claims drone attack on oil refinery in Bryansk Oblast. The governor of Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, Alexander Bogomaz, wrote on Telegram that drones had attacked the Druzhba oil refinery overnight on June 17. He claimed three drones were shot down by the Russian air defense, accusing Ukraine of the attack.

State Emergency Service: 28 settlements remain flooded in Kherson Oblast. As of 8 a.m. local time on June 17, the flood water level in Kherson Oblast has decreased to 1.09 meters, according to the State Emergency Service.

UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely gained ‘temporary advantage’ in Ukraine’s south with attack helicopters. Russia has likely gained a “temporary advantage” in southern Ukraine, “especially with attack helicopters employing longer-range missiles against ground targets,” the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its latest update on June 17.

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‘Unity is key.’ Volunteers join forces to save flood-hit Kherson Oblast

While the world was gripped by the horrendous flood that hit Ukraine’s  Kherson Oblast after Russian forces destroyed the massive Kakhovka dam over the Dnipro River, fearless volunteers and regular Ukrainians spent no time doubting they had to step up again.

Photo: Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

‘It was hell.’ Mother speaks of rescuing her child from Russian captivity

Like thousands of other children in the occupied territories of Ukraine, Tetiana Bodak’s son became a victim of one of the darkest outcomes of Russia’s full-scale war — the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Photo: Screenshot from the video by Save Ukraine

Human cost of war

Interior Ministry: Kakhovka Dam death toll rises to 16, with 31 missing. At least 16 people are confirmed dead and 31 are missing due to the flooding that occurred after Russian forces had destroyed the Kakhkovka Dam across the Dnipro River on June 6, according to the Interior Ministry.

Russian airstrike on Kherson Oblast kills 1, wounds 3. Russia’s air force struck the village of Kozatske, Kherson Oblast, on June 17, killing one person and wounding three, including a 35-year-old woman, an 88-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy, the regional administration reported.

Russian shelling injures 2 in Donetsk Oblast. A 9-year-old girl and a 57-year-old woman were injured by Russian shelling in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on June 17, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

Russian attack on civilian car in Kharkiv Oblast kills 4. Russian troops fired an anti-tank guided missile at a civilian car driving towards the Huriv Kozachok village in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 17.

Russian attacks kill 2, injure 25 in Kherson Oblast over past day. Russian attacks across settlements in Kherson Oblast have killed two people and wounded 25, including three children, over the past 24 hours, the Kherson Oblast State Administration reported.

General Staff: Russia has lost 219,170 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 17 that Russia had lost 219,170 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 last year.

Mediazona confirms identities of over 25,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. Through open-source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 25,528 Russian soldiers who had been killed in the past 15 months of the full-scale war.

International response

Media: Biden says not ready to ease NATO access for Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters on June 17 that he wouldn’t ease barriers to Ukraine’s membership in NATO because the country has to meet the same standards as other members, CNN reported.

Biden: Putin’s gambit of putting tactical nukes in Belarus ‘absolutely irresponsible.’ U.S. President Joe Biden called “absolutely irresponsible” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that the first of Russia’s tactical nukes have been deployed to Belarus.

Denmark ready to give F-16s to Ukraine if US approves. Acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on June 17 that Denmark could donate fighter jets to Ukraine but only if the U.S. gives the greenlight, Danish media Radio4 reported.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 12 – Ukraine’s counteroffensive finally began. What’s next?

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you byDaria Shulzhenko, Teah Pelechaty, Toma Istomina, Igor Kossov, Alexander Query, Francis Farrell, Brad LaFoy, Olena Goncharova, and Rachel Amran.

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