Ukraine – 6/13 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
June 13, 2022
Toastmasters:
We have always encouraged contributions to these emails from others living in Ukraine. Attached is a report from a member of the Kyiv Chapter of Toastmasters, an international organization that encourages public speaking. It is another example of the contribution that Civil Society Groups like Toastmasters are making to making to Ukraine’s victory. Ukrainians realize the stakes in Russia’s stated attempt to take over Ukraine and wipe out Ukrainian Society, of which Civil Society groups play such a significant part. There is a stark choice – victory or losing everything. This is something that those in the West should understand, especially those who have doubts about what Ukraine is fighting for.
6/12 Sitrep
Mariupol city council published a photo of how the city residents celebrated the Day of Liberation from Russian armed groups a year ago.
On June 13, 2014, a special operation began to liberate Mariupol from Russian militias which occupied the city in May. In the liberation effort there were 150 fighters of the Azov special battalion, 2 companies of the Dnіprо special battalion, 2 companies of the National Guard and a special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated
INTERNATIONAL
Putin fired Natalia Poklonskaya. The former Duma deputy, former prosecutor general of Crimea, and first major Ukrainian collaborator with Russia in Crimea 2014, said in an interview that "the letter Z symbolizes tragedy and grief for Russia and Ukraine". Poklonskaya reported that the decree on her resignation was signed in connection with her transfer to another job.
La Stampa: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Ukraine on June 16.
Pais: Vice President of the European Commission - The process of accession of Ukraine to the European Union should take years, not decades. "Let’s give her (Ukraine) the opportunity to become a candidate [to join the community] as soon as possible. This is a symbolic message and stimulus for the Ukrainian people". "We will decide on Friday.
Russian media: Cinemas shorten working hours in Russia or work weekends. Some of them have already closed due to the collapse. It is expected that by the end of 2022, the industry will lose 11.1 billion rubles (UAH 5.7 billion).
Reuters: Foreign affairs minister: It was "unacceptable" for a Canadian official to have attended Russia Day celebrations at the country's embassy in Canada
US Secretary of State: The Kremlin has stepped up its repression against civil society and independent media. Too many Russian citizens are behind bars for the 'crime' of telling the authorities the truth about their government's actions. Blinken added that the Russian government is trying to keep its citizens in the dark about the atrocities it is committing against the people of Ukraine.
TV Marathon: This war will be the last for the "Russian Empire," Garry Kasparov said. "This war will be really bloody and terrible, and it has one way out - a military defeat and the defeat of the Russian Federation and its subsequent collapse," the Russian opposition leader believes.
The Italian Embassy in Russia announced that now only Russians who have already paid the consular fee or are exempted from paying it will be able to apply for a visa. The Embassy said that full-time work "was temporarily interrupted due to a shortage of personnel that arose as a result of the forced return to Italy of the Consul General and a number of employees of the mission after the expulsion of Italian diplomatic personnel" from the Russian Federation. The second reason is the serious restrictions imposed by the Central Bank of Russia on transactions related to the consular fee.
Local Media: Voodoo dolls with Putin's face appeared in Japanese temples. The intent is a prayer for the destruction of evil.
A ministerial conference of members of the World Trade Organization began yesterday. Before its start, representatives of 57 states gathered for a special event of solidarity with Ukraine. According to the results of this intergovernmental conference, we will learn the timing of the decision on trade indulgences for Ukraine from Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.
Erdogan says the West cannot be trusted, especially in matters of politics. "When we ask Greece why you are creating American bases, they answer: "Against Russia.” And what have you done for Ukraine against Russia? Their words are full of lies", – the president of Türkiye believes.
Lithuanian: Lithuania purchased modern Estonian-made EOS C VTOL reconnaissance drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a total value of 990 thousand euros. "Four "birds" are flying to Ukraine right now, the rest will fly in 2 months", – he writes.
NATO Secretary General: NATO does not consider the Madrid summit on June 28-30 as a deadline for Finland and Sweden accession due to the objections of Türkiye.
● "Peace in Ukraine is possible. The question is what its price will be. How much territory, freedom and democracy are we willing to pay for this peace". He stressed that the Alliance intends to help Ukraine to give it the strongest position at the negotiating table with Russia.
● NATO takes security issues raised by Türkiye seriously.
● Finnish President: Finland will not join NATO without Sweden.
Polsat: The first 140 km of the wall was built on the Polish-Belarusian border. Poland is struggling with the influx of illegal migrants who massively cross the border from Belarus with the help of Belarus authorities starting in the summer of 2021.
Dagens Nyheter: The National Trade Council of Sweden has not allowed a packaging company 'Tetra Pak' to export products necessary for production into Russia.
Russian media: The so-called "Head of the Donetsk People's Republic" Denys Pushylin says that he sees no reason to pardon two British and one Moroccan fighter sentenced to death in the DPR.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman: The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that the idea of transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine endangers the Polish people.
Il Messaggero: Former Italian Prime Minister, leader of the right-wing "Forward Italy!" party Berlusconi said that at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he unsuccessfully tried twice to get through to Volodymyr Putin. "I haven't talked to Putin lately. We were very good friends. I have phoned him twice since the beginning of this "operation" (war) and have not received an answer".
DW: President of the European Commission: The EU is on the verge of a "historic decision" on the eve of the June 23-24 summit, which will consider granting Ukraine candidate status. "I hope that in 20 years, remembering these events, we will be able to say that we did the right thing.”
Ceske Noviny Czech Foreign Minister rejected the statement of French President that Russia, led by Volodymyr Putin, cannot be humiliated. "Russia is an aggressor, and we should not consider either humiliation or non-humiliation. Macron, probably, is not very well versed in the issue, Putin does not care how Russia is perceived in the West".
Bild: Rheinmetall CEO - The German company Rheinmetall announced that it was ready to immediately transfer several Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. They have been taken out of storage, upgraded, and are now only awaiting government approval.
● Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, commented on Berlin's slowness in delivering Marder infantry fighting vehicles: "Dear government...why are you denying the Ukrainian army these Marder infantry fighting vehicles, available now (in the concern) Rheinmetall, while Ukraine in the Donbas is bleeding before our eyes? 109 days of Russian extermination war. WHY?"
Social Media: In Kyiv, near the Russian Embassy, a protest action "The Last Days of Russia" was held yesterday. In Tbilisi protesters at the Russian Embassy laid out a Russian flag covered in blood in honor of Russia Day. In total anti Russia day rallies occurred in 30 countries according to Deusche Welle. Rallies in support of Ukraine were held in Torun - Poland, Paris, Essen, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Oslo, Munich, Prague, Cologne, The Hague
● Radio Liberty: More than 50 people were detained today in the Moscow metro in connection with a rally against the war in Ukraine, which was allegedly planned in Moscow on June 12. It is noted that the police identified people using a facial recognition system.
The Guardian: Russia is purposefully stealing "Scythian gold" in Ukraine. According to an international group of scientists and digital technology experts tracking the theft, a group of specialists is smuggling valuable historical artifacts from Ukraine to Russia.
Twitter: A Lithuanian deputy parliamentary commented on Russian TV presenter Solovyov's proposal to "come and pick up Smolensk.” "This guy just suggested that I invade Russia! No thanks, I already have a washing machine."
Russian media: An attempt was made to blow up the Druzhba oil pipeline in the Bryansk region. “There were 3 explosions near the village of Gulevka. The pipeline was not damaged, but the substation was damaged, and the power unit for controlling the valve was also de-energized.” In conditions of war, it is impossible to verify the information disseminated by the parties to the conflict. Treat her with caution.
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN: Nothing will save Putin and other war criminals "from God's wrath". "There is no purgatory for war criminals, they go straight to hell. He (Putin - ed.) did not repent.” The Ambassador made these remarks during a memorial service for the victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
CTV News: A Canadian pensioner who won the $70 million jackpot in the national lottery, will donate part of the funds to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
The Canadian brand Meleg Perfumes has released the Glory to Ukraine perfume to show its support for the Ukrainian people in the fight against Russian aggression. The cost of a bottle with a patriotic fragrance is $200 (about 6,000 hryvnias). The manufacturer noted that from each bottle of perfume sold, 50 Canadian dollars will be sent to the National Bank of Ukraine. The corresponding product appeared on the brand's website.
NATIONAL
Information Resistance: The Russian Armed Forces are transferring equipment from Belarus to the occupied Crimea, thus weakening their military groups at the northern borders of Ukraine
President's Office: To achieve weapons parity with Russia the president’s office estimates that Ukraine needs:
● 1000 heavy howitzers - 155mm
● 300 MLRS
● 500 Tanks
● 2000 armored vehicles
● 1000 drones
British Intelligence
● River crossing operations are likely to be amongst the most important determining factors in the course of the war.
● The key, 90km long central sector of the Russian frontline in the Donbas lies to the west of the Siverskyi Donets River. To achieve success in the current operational phase of its Donbas offensive, Russia is either going to have to complete ambitious flanking actions or conduct assault river crossings.
● Ukrainian forces have often managed to demolish bridges before they withdraw, while Russia has struggled to put in place the complex coordination necessary to conduct successful, large-scale river crossings under fire.
The Institute for the Study of War
● Russian Army continues attempts to advance on Sloviansk from the northwest
● Russian forces continued efforts to push Ukrainian troops back from contested frontlines northeast of Kharkiv.
● Russian forces continued ground assaults in Severodonetsk and blew up bridges that connect Severodonetsk to Lysychansk across the Siverskyi Donets River.
● It is likely an attempt to cut Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) that run from Bakhmut to Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk.
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Health: Since the beginning of the war, Russian troops have damaged 705 healthcare facilities in Ukraine, of which 115 were completely destroyed.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Today, the Ukrainian Russian front is 2,450 km, of which 1,105 km are under active hostilities. In certain areas the Armed Forces of Ukraine have switched to counter-offensive actions.
● The leadership of the Russian army deployed up to 7 battalion-tactical groups to capture Severodonetsk.
● In a conversation with the head of the US General Staff, stressed that the Russian Federation has a tenfold fire advantage, and Ukraine needs more 155-mm guns.
Hürriyet: The President of Türkiye announced new talks with Zelenskyi and Putin next week. They will discuss the problems of export of Ukrainian grain.
Handelsblatt: The German government is creating a cash fund for the transportation of grain from Ukraine. We are doing everything possible so that grain can be transported from Ukraine by rail to prevent global famine.
"A dream city for urbanists": a Japanese architect agreed to develop a plan for the restoration of Irpin, the Kyiv region. The architect will make a "master plan" for the restoration of Irpin, whose infrastructure was destroyed by Russian shelling.
The Economist: Ukrainian Defense Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the loss of interest on the part of Western politicians and the media in the difficulties of the Ukrainian army and a certain sense of relief, despite the fighting in Ukraine. "The bureaucracy and pragmatism of the West turned out to be much stronger than Western values", – he says.
● In February, Ukraine announced planned exercises for which the Armed Forces of Ukraine prepared mockups and empty units on the training grounds. The Russians mistook these mock-ups for genuine formations and bombed them with cruise missiles.
● Russia is deliberately wreaking havoc to force the country to capitulate, but such tactics are not working. According to him, the Ukrainians will never accept territorial concessions to a Russia that has spilt so much Ukrainian blood.
Local Media: Ukraine’s largest thermal power plant in Uhlehorsk was hit by the Russians. There was a strong fire on the territory, the administrative building was destroyed.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
08:48 June 3
● In the Kharkiv region, the Russian troops assaulted the direction of Ternova - Izbytske. They had partial success and consolidated on its northern outskirts. They carried out remote mining of possible ways of advancing Ukrainian units around the settlement of Petrivka, 20 km east of Staryi Saltiv.
● In the Sloviansk direction, the Russians stormed the settlements of the Dolyna and the Bohorodychne but had no success.
● In the Donetsk direction, the Russians are concentrating on conducting offensive actions to encircle the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Severodonetsk and Lysychansk and blocking the logistics supply from the Bakhmut town.
● In the Severodonetsk direction, Russian troops carried out an assault in the city of Severodonetsk, had partial success, and pushed Ukrainian units out of the city centre. Fighting continues.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully repelled the assault actions in the directions Viktorivka - Vrubivka and Komyshuvakha - Vrubivka. Russian troops resumed offensive operations in the Zolote.
● To improve the tactical position and capture the dominant heights, they unsuccessfully assaulted operations in the directions Dolomitne - Kodema, Dolomitne - Novoluhanske.
● In the direction of Pivdennyi Buh, the Russian troops are engaged in position defense. Their efforts have aimed at maintaining the previously captured territories.
18:40 June 12
● In the Slobozhansk direction, the Russians fired mortars, artillery and MLRS on the areas of the settlements of Zamulivka, Bairak, Husarivka and Ruski Tyshky.
● The troops of the Russian Federation unsuccessfully stormed in the direction of the settlements of Starytsia - Rubizhne.
● In the Sloviansk direction, the Ukrainian military successfully repelled enemy assault operations in the Dovhenke-Mazanivka and Dovhenke-Dolyna directions.
● In the Severodonetsk direction, the Russians are trying to overcome the resistance of the Ukrainian troops and establish full control over Severodonetsk, the fighting continues.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the troops of the Russian Federation conducted assault operations in order to capture the village of Vrubivka, but failed.
● When trying to resume assault operations in the direction of Orikhiv - Zolote, the Russians received a decisive rebuff and retreated.
A British citizen Jordan Gatley, who fought for Ukraine, died on June 10, in the battles for Severodonetsk, the Luhansk region. This was announced in social networks by his father Dean Gatley.
Reuters: Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Ukraine has established two ways to export grain through Poland and Romania. However it will take ten years to export last year's reserves using these narrow logistical avenues.
● Ukraine is negotiating with the Baltic States on the creation of a third corridor for food exports.
Operational Command Pivden (South). The Russians may fire at people in Kherson during the celebration of the "Day of Russia" and accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine of terrorism.
● The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the "Pion", Russian heavy howitzer, which was shelling the Mykolaiv region.
Map of Russian Forces on June 12 according to British Intelligence
British Intelligence:
● The Russian Federation uses its superiority in the balance of forces and artillery to gradually capture Severodonetsk and its environs.
● The Russian Federation is forming additional combat units for deployment in Ukraine. To replenish the battalions of the Russian Federation, recruits or mobilized reservists will have to be involved.
Third ranking commander of the Azov regiment regarding the exchange of 220 bodies of the defenders of Mariupol. The bodies are in a terrible state, so it will take months to identify someone.
Center for Counteracting Disinformation: Russian propagandists are spreading a fake about the mobilization of women in the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces. "The distributed fake is designed for the domestic consumer and aims to create centers of social instability in certain regions of Ukraine". The Territorial Defense Forces are 100% voluntary and accept men and women volunteers.
President’s Office: The Russians want to use "World Hunger" as a weapon. I have repeatedly said that Russia is preparing a food crisis that can trigger a chain of other crises in the world. They block Ukrainian ports, destroy crops, occupy large territories in the South and steal our grain. The three steps to solve the problem:
● green corridors from Ukrainian ports to unblock them and take out grain;
● military convoys, as well as anti-ship missiles for Ukraine;
● no sanctions concessions for the Russian Federation.
National Police: There were no ammunition or weapons on the territory of the military facility in Chortkiv, where the rocket hit. "There were no weapons at the facility that the Russians hit. We regard this as a strike to destroy the civilian population. The main goal is the demoralization of the personnel, the demoralization of the population."
German Minister of Agriculture: Ukraine cannot count on the fact that Russian President Volodymyr Putin will keep his word and ensure safe passage for ships with grain. "Trusting Putin's promises without reliable and effective military guarantees would be suicidal for Ukraine,'- he said.
State Security Service Intercepted Phone Conversations
12:34 June 12: Counterattacks by Ukrainian defenders in the Mykolaiv -Kherson direction are causing real hell for the Russians.
17:46 June 12: Russians in a conversation discuss ways to simulate combat wounds to escape from the war.
Ministry of Health: There will be insulin. The law on limiting the circulation of drugs from Russia and Belarus will not lead to a shortage of drugs in Ukrainian pharmacies. It is worth noting that Ukrainians have not received Russian-made drugs for a long time. Therefore, we do not expect a shortage of medicines, on the contrary, I am sure that the new legislation will encourage Ukrainian manufacturers to manufacture new drugs. "
SUMY
Regional Military Administration: Russian troops shelled the Sumy region again, there were no casualties. "Yesterday morning, Russian troops began shelling the territory of the Miropol community, 20 shots from a grenade launcher. Closer to 2 p.m, there were 3 more explosions on the territory of the Belopolsky society." .
● This morning, the Russian troops fired mortars at the Esman territorial community.
● After 7 am, there were 30 more explosions. There are no injuries and damage.
KHARKIV
State Emergency Service of Kharkiv region: There were two large-scale fires in the region due to Russian shelling, and the territory of the St. Michael the Archangel's Convent was also burned.
Regional Prosecutor: Last night, Russian troops fired on a children's health camp in the Chuhuivskiy district of the Kharkiv region
LUHANSK
11:09 June 13 Near Severodonetsk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed three "Grad" MLRS systems of Russian troops. During air reconnaissance, AFU found several "Grad" complexes, which Russians used for shelling Severodonetsk city. 3 Russian MLRS were destroyed, and one was damaged.
Regional Military Administration: The Russians bombed the second bridge in the direction of Lisichansk at night and took on the third one. They will throw all their reserves to cut and control the Lisichansk-Bakhmut highway.
● The Russians are powerfully shelling Lysychansk, today a six-year-old child was killed by enemy fire. Heavy fighting is also taking place in the Hirske community
● About 500 civilians remain on the territory of the 'Azot' plant in Severodonetsk, 40 of them are children. Sometimes the military manages to evacuate someone.
Mayor of Severodonestk 19:30 June 12
● the Armed Forces of Ukraine controls a third of the city;
● health workers remain in the hospital to provide assistance;
● it is very dangerous to leave even the surrounding settlements.
DONETSK
Regional Prosecutor’s Office: Law enforcement officers detained an 18-year-old resident of Bakhmut, who at least 14 times passed data on Ukrainian troops to the Russians.
● Yesterday, the Russians killed one civilian from Soledar, wounded three more.
Adviser to the mayor of Mariupol: In occupied Mariupol, Russian soldiers plan to demolish all partially destroyed houses within two weeks. They also no longer promise people "compensation" and heating in the winter.
● The Russians stole the third ship of rolled metal from Mariupol; the vessel will deliver the stolen goods to Rostov-on-Don.
● The Russian occupation authorities in Mariupol will limit the issuance of humanitarian aid to all citizens, except for those who are unable to work, and they also plan to demolish damaged buildings by September 1
● He noted that the Russians do not provide residents of the occupied city with any compensation for destroyed housing or assistance with the restoration of damaged ones.
Chief State Sanitary Doctor: No cases of cholera were recorded in Ukraine, but there is no data from Mariupol.
National Police: The police documented 7 strikes by Russians on the settlements of the Donetsk region. Russian troops hit the settlements - Toretsk, Seversk, Avdeevka, Ptich, Bogoyavlenko, Orlovka, and New York.
ZAPORIZHIA
During the "celebration" of the Day of Russia, an explosion occurred near the office of the so-called "Ministry of Internal Affairs" of the Zaporizhzhia region in the center of the temporarily occupied Melitopol. According to local media, a man and a girl were injured due to the explosion, and ambulances arrived at the scene.
KHERSON
Kherson Regional Council: Yesterday the occupying authorities organized the celebration of the" Day of Russia ". Local residents did not come to the holiday. Russia could not imagine a more shameful celebration. There are 30 or 40 Kherson residents there. Even if we take into account those who go to all the holidays, despite their political decoration, there should have been more of them. It is simply impossible to graft a dead tree onto a living one.
● The Washington Post: Despite all Russian propaganda, the resistance of the Kherson people to the occupation is only increasing. Russia still doesn't find traitors and collaborators. Very few people cooperate with invaders.
DNIPRO
Regional Military Administration: Yesterday, the Russians shelled the Sinelnikovskyi and Kryvyi Rig districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region. One person died as a result of Russian shelling.
● Russian troops fired on the residential quarters of the Zelenodolsk territorial community during the night from «Uragan». In Zelenodolsk, they hit the centre of the city. One person died, and five were wounded. In the Velyka Kostromka, previously, no injuries. The shelling areas are full of cluster munitions.
MYKOLAIV
La Repubblica: Regional Military Administration - The liberation of the Kherson region will be gradual in order to reduce losses among the Ukrainian military. "The Russians are killing their soldiers - we are trying to limit losses. They are shooting - we are relying on military tactics".
KYIV
The UN Independent International Commission to Investigate Russian Crimes in Ukraine visited the Kyiv region.
Regional Military Administration: ⚡️The gas and water supplies were resumed after yesterday's missile strikes by the Russian troops on the city in Chortkiv.
● As a result of Russian missile attacks on Chortkiv, 23 people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl. 10 people are still in hospitals.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://euromaidanpress.com/
https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBD3wxTrZ6XUU7IdXeHUfjVCydekezQCCGuwYnT6qPd1r7n1aVbFIewa6ng6Lis