Wednesday, June 14

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of a Russian missile strike on the southern city of Odesa overnight on June 14, 2023. (Ukrainian Southern Command)

Three killed, at least 13 injured in Russia’s overnight missile strike on Odesa. Three people were killed and at least 13 were injured after Russia launched a missile attack at the southern city of Odesa overnight on June 14, Ukraine’s Southern Command reported in a post on Facebook.

Stoltenberg: Ukraine already gaining ground in counteroffensive. Ukraine is already gaining ground against Russia, and although the counteroffensive is in its early stages, this shows that military support for Ukraine is vital, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told USA Today on June 12.

Officials: Pollutants found in waters near Kherson following Kakhovka dam disaster. Laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of E. coli and cholera in the waters near the city of Kherson following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, but not in high concentrations, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Military Media Center reported on June 13.

General Staff: Russia launches 29 airstrikes in past 24 hours. Russian forces launched 29 airstrikes targeting both military personnel and civilians, while also conducting 20 artillery shellings over the past 24 hours, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 13.

Defense Ministry records $8 billion in damages caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian military facilities in 2022. The amount of damage caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian military facilities in 2022 is estimated at Hr 298 billion ($8 billion), the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Military Media Center reported on June 13.

Zelensky meets with IAEA head in Kyiv. The President’s Office reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on June 13 in Kyiv to discuss the risks posed to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after the Kakhovka dam disaster.

Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.

Defense Ministry: Russian forces mined a large number of hydraulic structures. Russian forces have mined a large number of hydraulic structures in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, Major Vladyslav Dudar, a representative of the Defense Ministry, reported on June 13.

Poll: Most Ukrainians don’t think Russian-speaking citizens oppressed in Ukraine. According to a recent survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), 84% of Ukrainians believe there are no problems with using the Russian language in Ukraine, and Russian-speaking citizens are not oppressed.

Defense Ministry: Ukraine advances toward Berdiansk, other directions. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on June 13 that Ukrainian troops have advanced in the directions of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Bakhmut and Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Putin signs law allowing foreign passport confiscation of military personnel. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law on June 13 that grants authorities the power in certain cases to confiscate Russian citizens’ foreign passports or declare them invalid, as announced on Russian governmental sites.

Anti-corruption agencies launch investigation involving Ukrainian Railways. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) informed on June 13 of a corruption case concerning the state-owned railway monopoly Ukrzaliznytsia.

UK Defense Intelligence: Russia increases supply of Iranian drones. Russia is increasing its supply of Iranian-made drones by importing them via the Caspian Sea and setting up domestic production, the latest U.K. Defense Intelligence update said on June 13.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine makes gains 1 week into counteroffensive but decisive battle yet to begin

Ukraine’s large-scale counteroffensive, anticipated for months, spearheaded by new Western tanks and armored vehicles, has finally begun.

Photo: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih kills 11, injures 36

A Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih killed 11 people and injured 36 others, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city’s military administration, reported on

June 13.

Photo: Stas Yurchenko/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih kills 11, injures 36. A Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih killed 11 people and injured 36 others, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city’s military administration, reported on June 13.

Yermak: Priest killed in Russian shelling of Kherson Oblast. Russian troops shelled the village of Bilozerka in Kherson Oblast on June 13, hitting a church’s yard and killing a priest, reported Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak.

The attack also injured a 76-year-old woman, Yermak said on Telegram.

General Staff: Russia has lost 216,650 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 13 that Russia had also lost 3,935 tanks, 7,642 armored fighting vehicles, 6,473 vehicles and fuel tanks, 3,766 artillery systems, 601 multiple launch rocket systems, 363 air defense systems, 314 airplanes, 300 helicopters, 3,309 drones, and 18 boats.

International response

Luxembourg recognizes Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainians. Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies voted on a resolution on June 13 to recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide against Ukrainians.

NYT: US lawmakers call for South Africa to lose summit due to Russia ties. In a letter obtained by the New York Times on June 13, a group of U.S. lawmakers called to move a U.S.-Africa summit from South Africa to a different host over Russia ties.

France says it uncovered major Russian disinformation campaign. France uncovered a major Russian disinformation campaign aimed against Ukraine, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on June 13.

EU: 14 member states have provided aid to Ukraine following Kakhovka dam’s destruction. Fourteen EU member states and states participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism have provided aid to Ukraine in the wake of the Kakhovka dam disaster, European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis reported on June 13.

US announces new military aid for Ukraine including Bradley, Stryker vehicles. The U.S. Defense Department announced on June 13 a new military aid package worth $325 million for Ukraine, which includes armored vehicles, missile launchers, and munitions.

UK Defense Ministry announces $115 million air defense package for Ukraine. The U.K. Defense Ministry announced a new air defense package for Ukraine on June 13 worth $115 million “to bolster Ukraine’s ability to protect its critical national infrastructure, civilian population, and front-line personnel.”

WSJ: US to provide depleted-uranium tank shells for Ukraine. The U.S. is set to provide depleted-uranium tank shells after weeks of discussion, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote on June 13, citing U.S. officials.

Media: Greenpeace names conditions for Kakhovka disaster lawsuit against Russia. A trial against Russia due to the Kakhovka Dam destruction may be launched at the International Criminal Court (ICC) if evidence emerges on concrete individuals involved, Greenpeace legal advisor Daniel Simons said on June 13.

Pistorius: Germany to prepare over 100 Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine this year. Germany will prepare over 100 Leopard 1A5 tanks for Ukraine by the end of the year, Die Welt wrote on June 12, citing German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Ukraine’s True History Ep. 5 -

How Russia steals Ukrainian history to justify its aggression

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Dinara Khalilova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Kate Tsurkan, Martin Fornusek, Toma Istomina, Asami Terajima, Olena Goncharova, Rachel Amran, and Lili Bivings.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.