Ukraine – 6/28/2023 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
June 28, 2023
“Russians are Scared of Us”
Told to me by a very perceptive Ukrainian news commentator before the start of Russia’s latest invasion.
From the reading I’ve managed to do, I have concluded that Russians have always feared Ukrainians, especially since the fall of the Romanovs in 1917. The Soviets knew early on that without Ukraine, their experiment in creating a socialist paradise would fail. As Vladimir Lenin said, “Without Ukraine, we lose our head.” Bukharin knew that without Ukraine there would be no money to fund the transition to the socialist paradise. His policy of transferring the wealth of independent farms and businesses in Ukraine to fund Soviet social policies, was called “pumping over.” Today, nothing has changed.
We will be covering the subject of Russia’s fear of Ukrainians, and many other subjects in our e-book covering the 1st week of the war, to be sent on July 5th, to those who have supported us through this Friday, June 30th. If you would like to support us, in any amount, please click on the link HERE. Your support is greatly appreciated!
From Andrei on the Subject of the Wagner PMC
As most readers know, Andrei is a Ukrainian and a contributor to these emails. He served with the Soviet Army in Sub-Saharan Africa, and he worked in private equity in Moscow, before retiring to Ukraine. Here is Andrei’s opinion about the possibility of Wagner PMC invading Ukraine from the territory of Belarus:
“I doubt that the whole Wagner group will end up in Belorussia. Lukashenko will probably house their leadership for some time -- until they figure out how to get to safer places like Africa. More likely, they will be liquidated before that happens. As for the main forces of Wagner and their materiel, it would be madness for Putin to allow their relocation to another country -- be it Belorussia or Sudan. It would be madness for Lukashenko to house them too. If Wagner nearly toppled the Putin's government within 24 hours, then his forces could take over Belorussia even faster.”
“Even if by some miracle the above happens, I still do not see either Prigozhin or Dimitry Utkin, a Founder of the Wagner Group, willing to attempt anything serious on Ukraine's northern flank. Who would pay his mercenaries? Who will supply ammo and service their tanks? Finally, why would they do it at all?”
NOTE - I strongly suggest readers to click on the link for Dmitry Utkin and learn more about him. Very insightful.
“Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Reconstruction” by Timothy Ash/Substack
In his latest blog Tim Aash, as only Tim Ash can, successfully fillets the argument that frozen Russian assets, especially frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia can be used to partly finance Ukraine’s reconstruction. The argument, lying on Ash’s verbal cutting board, goes like this –
“A generalised consensus (at least within the establishment) at present is that existing laws in Western jurisdictions do not provide for currently “immobilised” Russian assets to be “seized” and “transferred” for the benefit of Ukraine. The fear therefore is that by seizing and transferring these assets, without a credible legal basis, that somehow this will undermine the rule of law in Western jurisdictions. The case is then made that while Russia has so clearly rode roughshod over international law by invading Ukraine, two wrongs don’t make a right and by stooping to similarly unlawful action in seizing and transferring these assets without a firm legal basis would make the West no better than Russia. It would also allow Russia and its allies and supporters to argue that the West only abides by the rule of law when it so suits.”
A few selected points raised by Ash in the process of filleting:
· “While we put the Western rule of law on a pedestal, where was it in first accepting the inflow of receipts which were so obviously the proceeds of kleptocracy and an absence of the rule of law in giving jurisdictions in the first place? Where was the KYC when the money came in? Indeed, so often the West complains about corruption in Emerging Market countries but facilitates it by accepting the receipts from that very same corruption and Kleptocracy all too easily. So I guess let’s not be on our high horses about the sanctity of our rule of law in the West. We talk about the rule of law when it suits us.”
· “It’s ridiculous to put on the same level a Western action to freeze and seize Russian assets, in response to blatant Russian aggression, invasion, war crimes and even genocide, as those same extreme actions by Russia.”
· “Note that the case made by Zelikow, et al argues that the suspension of sovereign immunity, allowing for seizing Russian assets, is a temporary state while Russia is so obviously acting itself in a illegal and harmful way to Ukraine and the West. The states following the same defence for overriding sovereign immunity would have to prove a similarly blatant action as is now the case with Russia. That is a high bar in reality.”
· “The reality is that by already freezing/immobisling Russian assets, the message has clearly been sent to other authoritarian regimes that their assets are at risk in Western jurisdictions if they act unlawfully or so aggressively against Western interests. That said the message should be clear - don’t conduct illegal invasions of other countries, conflict war crimes and genocide and then your assets will be safe.” (my bold face)
· “When it comes to the sanctity of the dollar or Euro and pound as global reserve currencies, the reality is where else would such regimes park their surplus reserves?”
· He (Putin) is not going to come back to the negotiating table because we offer to give him back the $400bn - he has plenty of other stashed cash - as arguably his decision will be more dependent on his military calculation and his determination as to whether his own survival is at risk.
· “The argument goes that we should worry about being overly punitive on Russia so as not to risk the Weinmar effect drawing comparisons to the post WW1 settlement on Germany. The line is that overly onerous reparations imposed on Germany drove its own subsequent economic collapse and then the rise of Nazi Germany, so be careful doing the same to Russia.” NOTE – As Ash points out the cases are very different. I would make the additional point that post WW-I France and Great Britain were using German reparations as a source of repayment of loans made by the United States to both countries to finance their prosecutions of the war. When German reparations had to be re-structured, the United States in turn had to restructure repayment of their loans to France and Great Britain, adding fuel to the arguments of American isolationists. If there is one possible parallel to today’s conditions, this is it which leads to the next point.
· (By using frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine reconstruction), “our politicians will head off the risk of major political scandals/fallout as electorates ask why they are being charged to protect frozen Russian assets. Their property rights (taxpayers or pensioners) are being attacked/taken away because our politicians think that it’s more important to protect the property rights of a murdererous regime.” In the United States, this argument becomes more dangerous every day, as the United States closer to the 2024 Presidential elections. The first Republican Presidential debate is in late August, less than 2 months away.
News From the Battlefield
“Reporting From Ukraine” has fascinating coverage, consisting mostly of video clips” of Ukraine crossing the Dnieper River opposite Kherson City. The bridge shown in the clips is the destroyed Antonovsky Bridge. I believe that the high-speed river craft shown in the clips came from the U.S.
Kherson is located at the point where the Dnieper River becomes a delta, before emptying into the Black Sea. The tactical map in the “Latest Denys” shows the transition. It is likely that once Ukraine pushes Russia back far enough that they will place a pontoon bridge across the Dnieper, allowing them to bring armor across.
Denys also mentions the advances Ukraine has made near Donetsk City, where they have taken back territory near the town of Pisky, that Ukraine originally lost in 2015. In 2014 and early 2015, Pisky played an important role as a staging area for civilians, running a Russian/separast gauntlet in their pickup trucks, to resupply Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians and separatists in the remains of the Donetsk Airport passenger terminal.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon June 27 to 12:00 noon June 28, 2023
OO
One explanation for the relatively large loss of armored fighting vehicles (Bradleys, etc.) for Ukraine is likely because, as was the case in the Kherson and Kharkiv offensives last year, AFVs are playing a relatively larger role in Ukraine’s counteroffensive than are tanks. They’re faster, they can carry infantry and, with a large gun and TOW missile launchers, they pack a large punch relative to their size. In their recent arms package, the U.S. is providing 30 additional Bradleys and 25 additional Strykers.
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday June 28
12:28 am: UN documented 77 executions and more than 800 cases of torture of peaceful Ukrainians.
● Matilda Bogner, head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine, spoke with such data today. The World Organization documented 864 cases of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops from February 24, 2022 to May 23, 2023. Almost all of them reported torture.
8:32 am: There are no heroes in the conflict between the Russian regime and the "Wagnerians" - both sides are committing brutal atrocities in Ukraine, - US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
8:33 am: The Alliance will monitor the movements of the "Wagner" PMC in Belarus, - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
8:33 am: Taiwan detected two Russian warships off its east coast and sent its planes and ships to monitor them, the island's defense ministry said, according to Reuters.
9:27 am: Ukraine will receive two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile complexes from Lithuania, - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
● "Lithuania has purchased two NASAMS launchers, which will be transferred to Ukraine. Air defense is key to Ukraine's fight against the aggressor," Nauseda wrote on his Twitter.
9:39 am: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda arrived in Kyiv. This was reported by the press service of the Lithuanian leader.
Tuesday June 27
2:26 pm: Rheinmetall will transfer 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on behalf of the Netherlands, writes Tagesschau.
● The first of 14 main battle tanks should be delivered to Ukraine in January 2024, and the rest - during 2024.
2:41 pm: CNN has released exclusive audio of former US President Donald Trump discussing plans to attack Iran with his staff and showing them a classified document.
3:15 pm: The Ukrainian Armed Forces won back more territory in the summer than Russia captured in the winter, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.
● According to him, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have already recaptured about 300 square kilometers as part of the summer campaign to liberate territories.
3:35 pm: The Pope's envoy for the settlement of the war in Ukraine, Cardinal Dzuppi, will visit Moscow on June 28-29, the Vatican reports.
8:15 pm: The Czech Republic has promised more military equipment for Ukraine, Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova said.
9:05 pm: The Pentagon announced a new $500 million military aid package.
● It will include:
o 30 BMP Bradley;
o 25 Stryker armored personnel carriers;
o ammunition for HIMARS, Patriot;
o 155-mm and 105-mm shells;
o other equipment.
NATIONAL
Wednesday June 28
12:19 am: Threat of using "Shahed" - Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia regions. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:38 am: Missile danger - Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia regions. The threat of using ballistic weapons. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:43 am: Kherson, Mykolaiv regions - missile danger. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:50 am: Kirovohrad region - missile danger. The threat of using "Shahed". This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
1:55 am: Threat of using "Shahed" - Cherkasy region. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
7:06 a.m. General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Tonight, the Russians carried out another airstrike by Iranian strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type. Information regarding the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified.
● Russian troops continue to concentrate their main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, and Marinka directions, and heavy fighting continues. Over 30 combat clashes took place during the day.
● In the settlement of Gornostaivka, Kherson region, Russians are taking away housing from residents who left for the controlled territory of Ukraine or died as a result of hostilities. The stolen house is marked with the signs "property of the Russian Federation", - General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine# At night, the air defense forces destroyed six barrage ammunition "Shahed-136/131", with which the Russians attacked from the south-eastern direction, - the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
8:23 am: Activity of Russian tactical aviation is observed in the southeast direction! There is a threat of using aviation weapons! - Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:47 am: The Cabinet of Ministers appointed Herman Smetanin as the head of Ukroboronprom, Minister of Strategic Industry Oleksandr Kamyshin announced
● He was given three main tasks - to increase the production of ammunition and military equipment, to build an effective anti-corruption infrastructure and to transform the concern.
11:50 am: Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes to the Council to officially change the dates of the three holidays
● The President has submitted a bill to the Parliament, which provides for changing the dates of public holidays
o December 25 - Christmas, instead of January 7;
o July 15 - Ukrainian Statehood Day, instead of July 28;
o October 1 - Day of Defenders of Ukraine, instead of October 14.
Tuesday June 27
12:25 pm: There are 4 Russian ships in the Black Sea. Among them, not a single carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles - the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:36 pm: Activity of enemy tactical aircraft is observed in the southeast direction! There is a threat of using aviation weapons — the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:57 pm: The departure of 2 Tu-22m3 aircraft from the Shaykovka airfield was recorded, which fired 2 missiles, their speed is more than 4000 kilometers per hour, - Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
1:55 pm: "NATO. Vilnius. Ukraine. There are all grounds for Ukraine's political invitation to the Alliance. There is a full understanding of security guarantees for Ukraine for the time until the accession. We are working with the team to make the decisions of the summit in Vilnius really meaningful." — Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
2:57 pm Operational Command South: "We are continuing combat work, it is effective and is going according to the pre-agreed plan. Very soon there will be results that will please everyone, I am sure."
5:20 pm: Russia destroyed almost 9% of the entire housing stock in Ukraine. The total amount of damage to the houses of Ukrainians exceeds 54 billion dollars, - Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).
● As a result of the full-scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine, 18,600 apartment buildings and more than 100,000 private houses were destroyed or damaged.
● The greatest destruction occurred in the Donetsk, Kyiv, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions.
7:08 pm: As of July 1, quarantine and the state of emergency due to the coronavirus epidemic will end in Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced.
7:28 pm General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: During the day, Russian troops hit a cottage cooperative in the Kremenchutsk district of the Poltava region with a Kh-22 cruise missile.
● In addition, the enemy carried out 20 airstrikes and fired more than 20 rounds of anti-aircraft fire at the positions of our troops and populated areas.
● The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on the Lymansky, Bakhmutsky and Marinsky directions - more than 10 combat clashes took place during the day.
● About 50 wounded Russian soldiers were brought to the building of a kindergarten converted into a field hospital for the invaders, located in Novomykhailivka, Kherson region.
● Also, the enemy continues to convert civilian educational institutions in the temporarily captured territories of Ukraine into medical institutions.
● Thus, the occupiers turned the secondary school of Rozhivka settlement of Zaporizhzhya region into another military hospital. The constant transport of wounded invaders is noted.
● During the day, the aviation of the defense forces made 12 strikes on enemy personnel concentration areas and 4 on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
● During the day, units of missile troops and artillery hit 1 control post, 2 Buk anti-aircraft missile complexes and 4 areas where the enemy's manpower, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.
8:32 pm: Zelensky fired the general director of Ukroboronprom - presidential decree.
9:30 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi had a telephone conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Har Stere.
● "Told about the trip to the forward positions of Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. We talked about the current situation on the battlefield and daily steps to de-occupy Ukrainian territory. He voiced some of Ukraine's defense needs, particularly in artillery.
● Positions were coordinated on the eve of the Vilnius NATO summit. And he also invited the prime minister to Ukraine," the president said.
10:16 pm: The movement of a few more Tu-22m3s into the waters of the Sea of Azov was recorded. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:04 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi: Today there is a new defense package from the USA for our soldiers: armored vehicles, ammunition for Patriots, Stingers, Hymars, additional shells for our artillery. Thank you, Mr. President Biden, Congress - both parties, all Americans!
● Front. Our heroes, our active actions. Today we also have a forward movement! In all areas where we conduct offensive actions. There are important results in repelling Russian assaults. Thank you, warriors!
11:05 pm: Shahedov was launched from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk airfield. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:20 pm: The National Commission on State Language Standards, which is the central body of the executive branch, recommends considering the renaming of the city of Zaporizhia, noting that the name may not meet the standards.
● According to the commission's conclusions, Zaporizhzhia is included in the list of names of villages, towns, and cities of the region, which "may not correspond to the lexical norms of the Ukrainian language, in particular, relate to Russian imperial policy."
Ukraine’s Grains and Oilseeds production in 2022 in comparison to 2021.
The basis of Ukrainian agricultural exports - grain - was the most affected. The loss in 2022 of more than 32 million tons of harvest, or 37.4% relative to 2021, significantly hit the industry and the country's economy in general.
Due to the occupation of territories and fighting in the front-line regions, the greatest crop losses, 75-80%, were in the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Kherson Oblast, which was under occupation for most of 2022, also fell out of the economy.
Kharkiv Oblast, which was de-occupied in the fall, lost somewhat less of its harvest, 40-50%. Similar figures were recorded in Mykolaiv, Odesa and Vinnytsia regions.
In addition, exporters have lost the cheapest way to foreign markets - the sea. Land and river alternatives at the current low prices for agricultural products did not allow farmers adequate returns.
What's the point of harvesting if selling comes at a greater loss than leaving it in the fields?
This is especially true of corn, a significant part of which remained in the fields over winter due to low sales prices and expensive grain drying. These factors made harvesting unprofitable for farmers. Power outages, which disabled equipment, added to the problem.
By comparison Ukraine’s lost production is roughly equivalent to total Canadian grain exports.
MORDOR – Russia
Wednesday June 28
12:06 am: Belarus has made Dmytro Firtash a diplomat — this may protect him from extradition to the United States.
● The court documents state that Firtash has the status of adviser to the permanent representation of Belarus at international organizations in Vienna, he was delegated on June 29, 2021. It is on the basis of this status that Dmytro Firtash demands to stop the extradition procedure to the USA, citing diplomatic immunity.
11:04 am: The Center for Combating Disinformation conducted a survey of the information space to identify hostile campaigns on the topic "Black Transplantology".
● Since 2014, Russia has been actively trying to promote fakes about black transplants aimed at discrediting Ukraine.
Tuesday June 27
12:41 pm: rosZMI reports that there will be another speech by Putin today. This time in front of the security forces, who stopped the rebellion of Prigozhin.
1:40 pm: Putin in an address to the military personnel of the Russian Federation:
● during the mutiny attempt, it was not necessary to remove combat units involved in the "special operations" zone;
● the Russian military effectively stopped the civil war;
● the pilots who died on June 24 fulfilled their duty with honor.
2:10 pm: The main thing from the statement of the head of the Russian Guard Zolotov:
● PVC "Wagner" would not be able to take Moscow;
● We will introduce heavy weapons and tanks to the Russian Guard, this issue was discussed with the president.
3:57 pm: Last Saturday, during their march toward Moscow, the Wagners destroyed extremely expensive and rare equipment of the Russian Air Force, - Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
● We are talking about two combat helicopters (Ka-52 and Mi), a Mi-8 military transport helicopter, as well as the most valuable Mi-8 helicopter with radio-electronic warfare equipment - according to Yuriy Ignat, there are only a few of them in service.
● Thanks to the Wagners, Russia also lost 15 pilots.
4:16 pm: The base for the "Wagner" is not being built in Belarus, said the spokesman of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demenko.
● "About the emergence of information about the possible construction of bases for Russian mercenaries on the territory of Belarus, at the moment we do not record such works," he said.
5:40 pm: A significant part of nuclear weapons has already been brought to Belarus, Lukashenko said.
6:41 pm: There will be no recruitment points for the "Wagner" army in Belarus, - Lukashenko.
● He also stated that he offered Prigozhyn one of the abandoned parts for the accommodation of the "Wagner" PVC camp, guaranteeing complete safety.
9:59 pm: Ukrainian hackers hacked the Russian Railways online conference. the Russians discussed the transportation of goods in the occupied territories.
● However, every word was followed by Ukrainian hackers. All the information and participants of the conference were recorded, and at the end they said "hello". The SBU is now processing the received data.
KHARKIV
Wednesday June 28
11:41 am Kharkiv RMA: This morning, the Russians from the Uragan surface-to-air missile fired at the village of Smoking area of Kupyan district. A 70-year-old woman who was in her own yard during the shelling was seriously injured. Doctors are now fighting for her life.
● In addition, the day before, the Russians massively shelled the border village with mortars. Tymofiivka of Bogoduhiv district. A dozen enemy mines damaged a private residential building. There were no casualties.
Tuesday June 27
9:58 am Kharkiv RMA: During the past day, the Russians continued to fire artillery and mortars at the frontline and border settlements of the Kharkiv, Kupyan, Bogodukhiv and Chuguyiv districts of the region.
● Civilian infrastructure is mainly under their blows. No casualties.
DONETSK
Wednesday June 28
7:34 a.m.: As of 7:00 a.m., 8 people are known to have died in Kramatorsk, including three children. Another 56 people were injured, - the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
● A search and rescue operation is underway. There may still be people under the rubble.
10:27 am: In Kramatorsk, a boy's body was found from under the rubble, thus the number of dead has increased to 9, - Mayor Honcharenko
● 60 people were injured, including an 8-month-old baby. Debris clearance continues.
Tuesday June 27
1:00 pm: An explosion is heard in Kramatorsk, subscribers report. We are waiting for official information.
1:22 pm Donetsk RMA: In the Donetsk direction, 4 streets in Krasnohorivka came under shelling, single shelling of Avdiyivka was recorded.
● 3 private houses, 6 high-rise buildings and the territory of an enterprise were damaged in the Horlivsk direction in the Chasovoyarsk community. In the Soledar community, 3 houses were damaged in Nikiforivka.
● In the Lysychansk direction, 4 houses were damaged in Torsky, 1 house in Yampol, 3 houses were destroyed and 4 were damaged in Terny, 1 house was destroyed and 1 was damaged in Yampolivka.
4:36 pm: The SBU detained the "chief engineer of Rosenergo" in Lyman, who disconnected the civilian population from electricity and supplied energy to the Russians, the press service of the SBU.
● The perpetrator turned out to be a former master of electrical networks in Lyman. During the temporary capture of the city, he supported the Russian invaders and offered them his help in the war against Ukraine.
8:45 pm Donetsk RMA: Russians struck the center of Kramatorsk, targeting a cafe area where there was a "large crowd of people".
● Data on victims and destruction are being established.
9:09 pm: 15 people were injured because of the attack on Kramatorsk, - OVA head Kyrylenko.
10:27 pm: In Kramatorsk, as of 10:00 p.m., rescuers extinguished a fire in the building of a destroyed catering establishment on an area of 30 square meters.
● The bodies of 3 dead people, including a child born in 2008, were unblocked from under the rubble.
● 26 people were injured, including a child born in 2022. One person was saved.
11:35 pm: The number of people killed because of the rocket attack on Kramatorsk has increased to 4, including a 17-year-old girl - Office of the Prosecutor General
● Among the 42 injured is an eight-month-old baby. People may be under the rubble. The final number of victims is still being determined.
ZAPORIZHIA
Wednesday June 28
12:34 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Melitopol.
10:43 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Melitopol.
8:48 am Dnipro RMA: Last night, the Russians shelled Myrivsk community of Nikopol district. They were fired from heavy artillery. People are unharmed.
● And around two o'clock in the morning, the Russians struck the Sinelnyk region. The Novopavlovsk community was targeted. An agricultural enterprise was damaged there. The information is being clarified.
Tuesday June 27
10:09 pm: The Air Force reports rocket launches in the direction of Zaporizhzhia.
10:12 pm: Threat of ballistics in the Zaporizhzhia region. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:14 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Zaporizhzhia.
POLTAVA
Tuesday June 27
1:05 pm Poltava RMA: The enemy attacked Poltava Oblast. There is a hit in the summer cottage cooperative in the Kremenchuk district. No victims beforehand.
● No hits to critical infrastructure facilities were recorded.
CHERKASY
Wednesday June 28
3:16 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Cherkasy region. Previously, the work of air defense.
11:32 am: At night, Cherkasy was subjected to a Russian attack from the air, - head of OVA Ihor Taburets.
● Air defense forces successfully destroyed two enemy attack drones. However, two more took aim at an empty warehouse in the Cherkasy district. The fire was extinguished. No casualties.
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.Ukraine – 6/28/2023 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
June 28, 2023
“Russians are Scared of Us”
Told to me by a very perceptive Ukrainian news commentator before the start of Russia’s latest invasion.
From the reading I’ve managed to do, I have concluded that Russians have always feared Ukrainians, especially since the fall of the Romanovs in 1917. The Soviets knew early on that without Ukraine, their experiment in creating a socialist paradise would fail. As Vladimir Lenin said, “Without Ukraine, we lose our head.” Bukharin knew that without Ukraine there would be no money to fund the transition to the socialist paradise. His policy of transferring the wealth of independent farms and businesses in Ukraine to fund Soviet social policies, was called “pumping over.” Today, nothing has changed.
We will be covering the subject of Russia’s fear of Ukrainians, and many other subjects in our e-book covering the 1st week of the war, to be sent on July 5th, to those who have supported us through this Friday, June 30th. If you would like to support us, in any amount, please click on the link HERE. Your support is greatly appreciated!
From Andrei on the Subject of the Wagner PMC
As most readers know, Andrei is a Ukrainian and a contributor to these emails. He served with the Soviet Army in Sub-Saharan Africa, and he worked in private equity in Moscow, before retiring to Ukraine. Here is Andrei’s opinion about the possibility of Wagner PMC invading Ukraine from the territory of Belarus:
“I doubt that the whole Wagner group will end up in Belorussia. Lukashenko will probably house their leadership for some time -- until they figure out how to get to safer places like Africa. More likely, they will be liquidated before that happens. As for the main forces of Wagner and their materiel, it would be madness for Putin to allow their relocation to another country -- be it Belorussia or Sudan. It would be madness for Lukashenko to house them too. If Wagner nearly toppled the Putin's government within 24 hours, then his forces could take over Belorussia even faster.”
“Even if by some miracle the above happens, I still do not see either Prigozhin or Dimitry Utkin, a Founder of the Wagner Group, willing to attempt anything serious on Ukraine's northern flank. Who would pay his mercenaries? Who will supply ammo and service their tanks? Finally, why would they do it at all?”
NOTE - I strongly suggest readers to click on the link for Dmitry Utkin and learn more about him. Very insightful.
“Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Reconstruction” by Timothy Ash/Substack
In his latest blog Tim Aash, as only Tim Ash can, successfully fillets the argument that frozen Russian assets, especially frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia can be used to partly finance Ukraine’s reconstruction. The argument, lying on Ash’s verbal cutting board, goes like this –
“A generalised consensus (at least within the establishment) at present is that existing laws in Western jurisdictions do not provide for currently “immobilised” Russian assets to be “seized” and “transferred” for the benefit of Ukraine. The fear therefore is that by seizing and transferring these assets, without a credible legal basis, that somehow this will undermine the rule of law in Western jurisdictions. The case is then made that while Russia has so clearly rode roughshod over international law by invading Ukraine, two wrongs don’t make a right and by stooping to similarly unlawful action in seizing and transferring these assets without a firm legal basis would make the West no better than Russia. It would also allow Russia and its allies and supporters to argue that the West only abides by the rule of law when it so suits.”
A few selected points raised by Ash in the process of filleting:
· “While we put the Western rule of law on a pedestal, where was it in first accepting the inflow of receipts which were so obviously the proceeds of kleptocracy and an absence of the rule of law in giving jurisdictions in the first place? Where was the KYC when the money came in? Indeed, so often the West complains about corruption in Emerging Market countries but facilitates it by accepting the receipts from that very same corruption and Kleptocracy all too easily. So I guess let’s not be on our high horses about the sanctity of our rule of law in the West. We talk about the rule of law when it suits us.”
· “It’s ridiculous to put on the same level a Western action to freeze and seize Russian assets, in response to blatant Russian aggression, invasion, war crimes and even genocide, as those same extreme actions by Russia.”
· “Note that the case made by Zelikow, et al argues that the suspension of sovereign immunity, allowing for seizing Russian assets, is a temporary state while Russia is so obviously acting itself in a illegal and harmful way to Ukraine and the West. The states following the same defence for overriding sovereign immunity would have to prove a similarly blatant action as is now the case with Russia. That is a high bar in reality.”
· “The reality is that by already freezing/immobisling Russian assets, the message has clearly been sent to other authoritarian regimes that their assets are at risk in Western jurisdictions if they act unlawfully or so aggressively against Western interests. That said the message should be clear - don’t conduct illegal invasions of other countries, conflict war crimes and genocide and then your assets will be safe.” (my bold face)
· “When it comes to the sanctity of the dollar or Euro and pound as global reserve currencies, the reality is where else would such regimes park their surplus reserves?”
· He (Putin) is not going to come back to the negotiating table because we offer to give him back the $400bn - he has plenty of other stashed cash - as arguably his decision will be more dependent on his military calculation and his determination as to whether his own survival is at risk.
· “The argument goes that we should worry about being overly punitive on Russia so as not to risk the Weinmar effect drawing comparisons to the post WW1 settlement on Germany. The line is that overly onerous reparations imposed on Germany drove its own subsequent economic collapse and then the rise of Nazi Germany, so be careful doing the same to Russia.” NOTE – As Ash points out the cases are very different. I would make the additional point that post WW-I France and Great Britain were using German reparations as a source of repayment of loans made by the United States to both countries to finance their prosecutions of the war. When German reparations had to be re-structured, the United States in turn had to restructure repayment of their loans to France and Great Britain, adding fuel to the arguments of American isolationists. If there is one possible parallel to today’s conditions, this is it which leads to the next point.
· (By using frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine reconstruction), “our politicians will head off the risk of major political scandals/fallout as electorates ask why they are being charged to protect frozen Russian assets. Their property rights (taxpayers or pensioners) are being attacked/taken away because our politicians think that it’s more important to protect the property rights of a murdererous regime.” In the United States, this argument becomes more dangerous every day, as the United States closer to the 2024 Presidential elections. The first Republican Presidential debate is in late August, less than 2 months away.
News From the Battlefield
“Reporting From Ukraine” has fascinating coverage, consisting mostly of video clips” of Ukraine crossing the Dnieper River opposite Kherson City. The bridge shown in the clips is the destroyed Antonovsky Bridge. I believe that the high-speed river craft shown in the clips came from the U.S.
Kherson is located at the point where the Dnieper River becomes a delta, before emptying into the Black Sea. The tactical map in the “Latest Denys” shows the transition. It is likely that once Ukraine pushes Russia back far enough that they will place a pontoon bridge across the Dnieper, allowing them to bring armor across.
Denys also mentions the advances Ukraine has made near Donetsk City, where they have taken back territory near the town of Pisky, that Ukraine originally lost in 2015. In 2014 and early 2015, Pisky played an important role as a staging area for civilians, running a Russian/separast gauntlet in their pickup trucks, to resupply Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians and separatists in the remains of the Donetsk Airport passenger terminal.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon June 27 to 12:00 noon June 28, 2023
OO
One explanation for the relatively large loss of armored fighting vehicles (Bradleys, etc.) for Ukraine is likely because, as was the case in the Kherson and Kharkiv offensives last year, AFVs are playing a relatively larger role in Ukraine’s counteroffensive than are tanks. They’re faster, they can carry infantry and, with a large gun and TOW missile launchers, they pack a large punch relative to their size. In their recent arms package, the U.S. is providing 30 additional Bradleys and 25 additional Strykers.
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday June 28
12:28 am: UN documented 77 executions and more than 800 cases of torture of peaceful Ukrainians.
● Matilda Bogner, head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine, spoke with such data today. The World Organization documented 864 cases of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops from February 24, 2022 to May 23, 2023. Almost all of them reported torture.
8:32 am: There are no heroes in the conflict between the Russian regime and the "Wagnerians" - both sides are committing brutal atrocities in Ukraine, - US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
8:33 am: The Alliance will monitor the movements of the "Wagner" PMC in Belarus, - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
8:33 am: Taiwan detected two Russian warships off its east coast and sent its planes and ships to monitor them, the island's defense ministry said, according to Reuters.
9:27 am: Ukraine will receive two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile complexes from Lithuania, - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
● "Lithuania has purchased two NASAMS launchers, which will be transferred to Ukraine. Air defense is key to Ukraine's fight against the aggressor," Nauseda wrote on his Twitter.
9:39 am: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda arrived in Kyiv. This was reported by the press service of the Lithuanian leader.
Tuesday June 27
2:26 pm: Rheinmetall will transfer 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on behalf of the Netherlands, writes Tagesschau.
● The first of 14 main battle tanks should be delivered to Ukraine in January 2024, and the rest - during 2024.
2:41 pm: CNN has released exclusive audio of former US President Donald Trump discussing plans to attack Iran with his staff and showing them a classified document.
3:15 pm: The Ukrainian Armed Forces won back more territory in the summer than Russia captured in the winter, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.
● According to him, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have already recaptured about 300 square kilometers as part of the summer campaign to liberate territories.
3:35 pm: The Pope's envoy for the settlement of the war in Ukraine, Cardinal Dzuppi, will visit Moscow on June 28-29, the Vatican reports.
8:15 pm: The Czech Republic has promised more military equipment for Ukraine, Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova said.
9:05 pm: The Pentagon announced a new $500 million military aid package.
● It will include:
o 30 BMP Bradley;
o 25 Stryker armored personnel carriers;
o ammunition for HIMARS, Patriot;
o 155-mm and 105-mm shells;
o other equipment.
NATIONAL
Wednesday June 28
12:19 am: Threat of using "Shahed" - Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia regions. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:38 am: Missile danger - Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia regions. The threat of using ballistic weapons. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:43 am: Kherson, Mykolaiv regions - missile danger. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:50 am: Kirovohrad region - missile danger. The threat of using "Shahed". This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
1:55 am: Threat of using "Shahed" - Cherkasy region. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
7:06 a.m. General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Tonight, the Russians carried out another airstrike by Iranian strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type. Information regarding the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified.
● Russian troops continue to concentrate their main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, and Marinka directions, and heavy fighting continues. Over 30 combat clashes took place during the day.
● In the settlement of Gornostaivka, Kherson region, Russians are taking away housing from residents who left for the controlled territory of Ukraine or died as a result of hostilities. The stolen house is marked with the signs "property of the Russian Federation", - General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine# At night, the air defense forces destroyed six barrage ammunition "Shahed-136/131", with which the Russians attacked from the south-eastern direction, - the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
8:23 am: Activity of Russian tactical aviation is observed in the southeast direction! There is a threat of using aviation weapons! - Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:47 am: The Cabinet of Ministers appointed Herman Smetanin as the head of Ukroboronprom, Minister of Strategic Industry Oleksandr Kamyshin announced
● He was given three main tasks - to increase the production of ammunition and military equipment, to build an effective anti-corruption infrastructure and to transform the concern.
11:50 am: Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes to the Council to officially change the dates of the three holidays
● The President has submitted a bill to the Parliament, which provides for changing the dates of public holidays
o December 25 - Christmas, instead of January 7;
o July 15 - Ukrainian Statehood Day, instead of July 28;
o October 1 - Day of Defenders of Ukraine, instead of October 14.
Tuesday June 27
12:25 pm: There are 4 Russian ships in the Black Sea. Among them, not a single carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles - the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:36 pm: Activity of enemy tactical aircraft is observed in the southeast direction! There is a threat of using aviation weapons — the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:57 pm: The departure of 2 Tu-22m3 aircraft from the Shaykovka airfield was recorded, which fired 2 missiles, their speed is more than 4000 kilometers per hour, - Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
1:55 pm: "NATO. Vilnius. Ukraine. There are all grounds for Ukraine's political invitation to the Alliance. There is a full understanding of security guarantees for Ukraine for the time until the accession. We are working with the team to make the decisions of the summit in Vilnius really meaningful." — Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
2:57 pm Operational Command South: "We are continuing combat work, it is effective and is going according to the pre-agreed plan. Very soon there will be results that will please everyone, I am sure."
5:20 pm: Russia destroyed almost 9% of the entire housing stock in Ukraine. The total amount of damage to the houses of Ukrainians exceeds 54 billion dollars, - Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).
● As a result of the full-scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine, 18,600 apartment buildings and more than 100,000 private houses were destroyed or damaged.
● The greatest destruction occurred in the Donetsk, Kyiv, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions.
7:08 pm: As of July 1, quarantine and the state of emergency due to the coronavirus epidemic will end in Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced.
7:28 pm General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: During the day, Russian troops hit a cottage cooperative in the Kremenchutsk district of the Poltava region with a Kh-22 cruise missile.
● In addition, the enemy carried out 20 airstrikes and fired more than 20 rounds of anti-aircraft fire at the positions of our troops and populated areas.
● The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on the Lymansky, Bakhmutsky and Marinsky directions - more than 10 combat clashes took place during the day.
● About 50 wounded Russian soldiers were brought to the building of a kindergarten converted into a field hospital for the invaders, located in Novomykhailivka, Kherson region.
● Also, the enemy continues to convert civilian educational institutions in the temporarily captured territories of Ukraine into medical institutions.
● Thus, the occupiers turned the secondary school of Rozhivka settlement of Zaporizhzhya region into another military hospital. The constant transport of wounded invaders is noted.
● During the day, the aviation of the defense forces made 12 strikes on enemy personnel concentration areas and 4 on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
● During the day, units of missile troops and artillery hit 1 control post, 2 Buk anti-aircraft missile complexes and 4 areas where the enemy's manpower, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.
8:32 pm: Zelensky fired the general director of Ukroboronprom - presidential decree.
9:30 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi had a telephone conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Har Stere.
● "Told about the trip to the forward positions of Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. We talked about the current situation on the battlefield and daily steps to de-occupy Ukrainian territory. He voiced some of Ukraine's defense needs, particularly in artillery.
● Positions were coordinated on the eve of the Vilnius NATO summit. And he also invited the prime minister to Ukraine," the president said.
10:16 pm: The movement of a few more Tu-22m3s into the waters of the Sea of Azov was recorded. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:04 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi: Today there is a new defense package from the USA for our soldiers: armored vehicles, ammunition for Patriots, Stingers, Hymars, additional shells for our artillery. Thank you, Mr. President Biden, Congress - both parties, all Americans!
● Front. Our heroes, our active actions. Today we also have a forward movement! In all areas where we conduct offensive actions. There are important results in repelling Russian assaults. Thank you, warriors!
11:05 pm: Shahedov was launched from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk airfield. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:20 pm: The National Commission on State Language Standards, which is the central body of the executive branch, recommends considering the renaming of the city of Zaporizhia, noting that the name may not meet the standards.
● According to the commission's conclusions, Zaporizhzhia is included in the list of names of villages, towns, and cities of the region, which "may not correspond to the lexical norms of the Ukrainian language, in particular, relate to Russian imperial policy."
Ukraine’s Grains and Oilseeds production in 2022 in comparison to 2021.
The basis of Ukrainian agricultural exports - grain - was the most affected. The loss in 2022 of more than 32 million tons of harvest, or 37.4% relative to 2021, significantly hit the industry and the country's economy in general.
Due to the occupation of territories and fighting in the front-line regions, the greatest crop losses, 75-80%, were in the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Kherson Oblast, which was under occupation for most of 2022, also fell out of the economy.
Kharkiv Oblast, which was de-occupied in the fall, lost somewhat less of its harvest, 40-50%. Similar figures were recorded in Mykolaiv, Odesa and Vinnytsia regions.
In addition, exporters have lost the cheapest way to foreign markets - the sea. Land and river alternatives at the current low prices for agricultural products did not allow farmers adequate returns.
What's the point of harvesting if selling comes at a greater loss than leaving it in the fields?
This is especially true of corn, a significant part of which remained in the fields over winter due to low sales prices and expensive grain drying. These factors made harvesting unprofitable for farmers. Power outages, which disabled equipment, added to the problem.
By comparison Ukraine’s lost production is roughly equivalent to total Canadian grain exports.
MORDOR – Russia
Wednesday June 28
12:06 am: Belarus has made Dmytro Firtash a diplomat — this may protect him from extradition to the United States.
● The court documents state that Firtash has the status of adviser to the permanent representation of Belarus at international organizations in Vienna, he was delegated on June 29, 2021. It is on the basis of this status that Dmytro Firtash demands to stop the extradition procedure to the USA, citing diplomatic immunity.
11:04 am: The Center for Combating Disinformation conducted a survey of the information space to identify hostile campaigns on the topic "Black Transplantology".
● Since 2014, Russia has been actively trying to promote fakes about black transplants aimed at discrediting Ukraine.
Tuesday June 27
12:41 pm: rosZMI reports that there will be another speech by Putin today. This time in front of the security forces, who stopped the rebellion of Prigozhin.
1:40 pm: Putin in an address to the military personnel of the Russian Federation:
● during the mutiny attempt, it was not necessary to remove combat units involved in the "special operations" zone;
● the Russian military effectively stopped the civil war;
● the pilots who died on June 24 fulfilled their duty with honor.
2:10 pm: The main thing from the statement of the head of the Russian Guard Zolotov:
● PVC "Wagner" would not be able to take Moscow;
● We will introduce heavy weapons and tanks to the Russian Guard, this issue was discussed with the president.
3:57 pm: Last Saturday, during their march toward Moscow, the Wagners destroyed extremely expensive and rare equipment of the Russian Air Force, - Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
● We are talking about two combat helicopters (Ka-52 and Mi), a Mi-8 military transport helicopter, as well as the most valuable Mi-8 helicopter with radio-electronic warfare equipment - according to Yuriy Ignat, there are only a few of them in service.
● Thanks to the Wagners, Russia also lost 15 pilots.
4:16 pm: The base for the "Wagner" is not being built in Belarus, said the spokesman of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demenko.
● "About the emergence of information about the possible construction of bases for Russian mercenaries on the territory of Belarus, at the moment we do not record such works," he said.
5:40 pm: A significant part of nuclear weapons has already been brought to Belarus, Lukashenko said.
6:41 pm: There will be no recruitment points for the "Wagner" army in Belarus, - Lukashenko.
● He also stated that he offered Prigozhyn one of the abandoned parts for the accommodation of the "Wagner" PVC camp, guaranteeing complete safety.
9:59 pm: Ukrainian hackers hacked the Russian Railways online conference. the Russians discussed the transportation of goods in the occupied territories.
● However, every word was followed by Ukrainian hackers. All the information and participants of the conference were recorded, and at the end they said "hello". The SBU is now processing the received data.
KHARKIV
Wednesday June 28
11:41 am Kharkiv RMA: This morning, the Russians from the Uragan surface-to-air missile fired at the village of Smoking area of Kupyan district. A 70-year-old woman who was in her own yard during the shelling was seriously injured. Doctors are now fighting for her life.
● In addition, the day before, the Russians massively shelled the border village with mortars. Tymofiivka of Bogoduhiv district. A dozen enemy mines damaged a private residential building. There were no casualties.
Tuesday June 27
9:58 am Kharkiv RMA: During the past day, the Russians continued to fire artillery and mortars at the frontline and border settlements of the Kharkiv, Kupyan, Bogodukhiv and Chuguyiv districts of the region.
● Civilian infrastructure is mainly under their blows. No casualties.
DONETSK
Wednesday June 28
7:34 a.m.: As of 7:00 a.m., 8 people are known to have died in Kramatorsk, including three children. Another 56 people were injured, - the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
● A search and rescue operation is underway. There may still be people under the rubble.
10:27 am: In Kramatorsk, a boy's body was found from under the rubble, thus the number of dead has increased to 9, - Mayor Honcharenko
● 60 people were injured, including an 8-month-old baby. Debris clearance continues.
Tuesday June 27
1:00 pm: An explosion is heard in Kramatorsk, subscribers report. We are waiting for official information.
1:22 pm Donetsk RMA: In the Donetsk direction, 4 streets in Krasnohorivka came under shelling, single shelling of Avdiyivka was recorded.
● 3 private houses, 6 high-rise buildings and the territory of an enterprise were damaged in the Horlivsk direction in the Chasovoyarsk community. In the Soledar community, 3 houses were damaged in Nikiforivka.
● In the Lysychansk direction, 4 houses were damaged in Torsky, 1 house in Yampol, 3 houses were destroyed and 4 were damaged in Terny, 1 house was destroyed and 1 was damaged in Yampolivka.
4:36 pm: The SBU detained the "chief engineer of Rosenergo" in Lyman, who disconnected the civilian population from electricity and supplied energy to the Russians, the press service of the SBU.
● The perpetrator turned out to be a former master of electrical networks in Lyman. During the temporary capture of the city, he supported the Russian invaders and offered them his help in the war against Ukraine.
8:45 pm Donetsk RMA: Russians struck the center of Kramatorsk, targeting a cafe area where there was a "large crowd of people".
● Data on victims and destruction are being established.
9:09 pm: 15 people were injured because of the attack on Kramatorsk, - OVA head Kyrylenko.
10:27 pm: In Kramatorsk, as of 10:00 p.m., rescuers extinguished a fire in the building of a destroyed catering establishment on an area of 30 square meters.
● The bodies of 3 dead people, including a child born in 2008, were unblocked from under the rubble.
● 26 people were injured, including a child born in 2022. One person was saved.
11:35 pm: The number of people killed because of the rocket attack on Kramatorsk has increased to 4, including a 17-year-old girl - Office of the Prosecutor General
● Among the 42 injured is an eight-month-old baby. People may be under the rubble. The final number of victims is still being determined.
ZAPORIZHIA
Wednesday June 28
12:34 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Melitopol.
10:43 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Melitopol.
8:48 am Dnipro RMA: Last night, the Russians shelled Myrivsk community of Nikopol district. They were fired from heavy artillery. People are unharmed.
● And around two o'clock in the morning, the Russians struck the Sinelnyk region. The Novopavlovsk community was targeted. An agricultural enterprise was damaged there. The information is being clarified.
Tuesday June 27
10:09 pm: The Air Force reports rocket launches in the direction of Zaporizhzhia.
10:12 pm: Threat of ballistics in the Zaporizhzhia region. This is reported in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:14 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Zaporizhzhia.
POLTAVA
Tuesday June 27
1:05 pm Poltava RMA: The enemy attacked Poltava Oblast. There is a hit in the summer cottage cooperative in the Kremenchuk district. No victims beforehand.
● No hits to critical infrastructure facilities were recorded.
CHERKASY
Wednesday June 28
3:16 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Cherkasy region. Previously, the work of air defense.
11:32 am: At night, Cherkasy was subjected to a Russian attack from the air, - head of OVA Ihor Taburets.
● Air defense forces successfully destroyed two enemy attack drones. However, two more took aim at an empty warehouse in the Cherkasy district. The fire was extinguished. No casualties.
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.