Ukraine – 6/4/23 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
June 4, 2023
Elina Svitolina Through to the French Open Quarterfinals
Today, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina defeated the 9th Seeded Russian, Daria Kasatkina, in straight sets, 6-4 7-6.
In her news conference after defeating another Russian, Anna Blinkova, last Friday, Svitolina gave a very moving and eloquent answer to a reporter’s question as to why she didn’t shake hands with Blinkova after the match (she also didn’t shake Blinkova’s hand after defeating her in the Finals at Strasbourg, just before the French Open). Svitolina also said that the admires Kasatkina for being vocal in her opposition to her country’s war on Ukraine.
Here are highlights of Svitolina’s match earlier today against Kasatkina. This is Svitolina’s first major tournament, after returning after an absence of one year to have a child. From her facial expressions and from her interviews, she seems like she’s on a “mission.”
“Salami Slicing, Boiled Frogs and Russia’s Red Lines”/Lawrence Friedman on Substack
In Freedman’s latest Substack blog, he starts with some dialogue from the famous British TV Show “Yes Minister.” The episode was from 1986. It’s an exchange about whether, and under what circumstances, the Prime Minister would actually use nuclear weapons.
Freedman describes Russia’s use of “Salami Tactics” against Ukraine, starting in 2014, taking little pieces and, all the while, blaming the Fascists in Kyiv. Then, as Freedman observes, in 2022 Russia decided to change course and take the whole salami. It was a monumentally bad decision by the Russian Federation, as Freedman describes –
“Though its full implications were not appreciated immediately, the unavoidable and deep commitment to backing Ukraine’s efforts to liberate its country from Russian occupation turned the issue about salami slicing round. The Russians had not only failed to take the whole salami, but the Ukrainians were soon taking individual slices back. As they did so – pushing back Russian troops close to Kyiv, then from Kharkiv, and later much of Kherson – NATO’s material support was validated and the incentives to reinforce Ukrainian success grew. The debate became one of how many slices could and should be taken back, and in particular whether perhaps the Russians might be allowed to keep their two original slices from 2014 – Crimea and the Donbas enclaves - as some sort of consolation should they agree to abandon the other slices voluntarily.”
Regarding Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, Freedman describes Ukraine going to a buffet –
“Think of Ukraine being invited to a buffet with a spread laid out before them full of the tastiest Western military dishes. At first they are guided to the salads and told that is all they are allowed. But that hardly satisfies their appetites, and they are soon looking longingly at more nutritious dishes, only to be told that there is no room on their plates or that they might find the food too rich. Eventually the conversation shifts. If they choose carefully and are not too greedy they might start to take from more of the buffet. And as they gobble up these dishes they argue persuasively that there is no point in denying them access to the rest. And so it has come to pass that slowly but surely the Ukrainians have acquired long-range artillery, infantry vehicles and tanks, advanced air defences, and cruise missiles, and are now looking forward to fourth-generation aircraft.”
Freedman concludes –
“It is now Russia’s deterrence that is losing credibility as they continue to be caught out by a series of incremental Ukrainian moves for which they have few answers. A recent Washington Post story notes that the Biden Administration has become less worried about Russia’s red lines because Putin ‘has not followed through on promises to punish the West for providing weapons to Ukraine.’ As his bluffing became evident, Western leaders gained in confidence. Of course this confidence carries its own risks if one day Putin decides that he dare not bluff any more, but for now it is the Russian salami that is being sliced in ways that leave it frustrated and thwarted.”
This was one of Freedman’s more delicious blogs.
African Misadventures
Recently, President Ruto of Kenya announced that Kenya had reached an agreement with the Russian Federation on a free trade pact. The photo shows Pres. Ruto standing next to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Lavrov looks like he just swallowed a canary. It seems that the items Kenya would be most interested in buying from Russia include fertilizer and agricultural products. I wonder if Pres. Ruto will insist, as part of any free trade agreement with the Russian Federations, that Kenya would not buy any agricultural products that has been stolen from Ukrainian farmers. After all, if there are “blood diamonds;” why not “blood wheat?” I am not holding my breath.
Meanwhile in S. Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is casting about for legal ways to invite Putin to the summit of BRICS (Russia, Brazil, India, China & S. Africa) countries, to be held this coming August in S. Africa, without being compelled to execute the outstanding ICC arrest warrant against Putin. At the same time, S. Africa’s main opposition party has filed a lawsuit against ANC in S. African courts, the objective of which is to compel the ANC to arrest Putin upon his arrival in S. Africa. There is now discussion about moving the conference to China, and thus absolve S. Africa from going against an obligation they agreed to when S. Africa became an ICC member.
News From the Battlefield
The last 2 posts from “Reporting From Ukraine,” yesterday and today, focus on the goings on in Belgorod Oblast, Russian Federation and, more importantly, the impact the incursions might be having on Russian military readiness to repel Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.
The Belgorod incursions seem to be having the desired effect, of forcing Russia to move its forces inside Ukraine around, as “reporting From Ukraine” vividly describes in his most recent post, and In the process making Russian units targets for Ukrainian artillery, thus diluting Russia’s ability to defend against a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south.
Likewise, the larger purpose of Russia’s aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities may be to keep Ukraine from moving its air defense units, including Patriots closer to the front line, thus reducing air cover for Ukrainian armor and infantry that would participate in any counteroffensive.
Another View on Ukraine’s Reconstruction
This is from my friend Andrei, a Ukrainian who worked in private equity in Moscow in the 2000s. This is his response to last Friday’s email on how to handle Ukraine’s reconstruction needs –
“I personally believe that re-building Ukraine shall be as decentralized as possible.
“There will be projects that would have to be centralized by necessity. Like re-building destroyed infrastructure -- power grid, electricity generation, railway, roads and bridges. Those, most likely, could be accomplished through government and private companies' co-operation under international supervision to avoid massive corruption. Mind that the corruption could be massive indeed in light of massive investment needed.”
“But all the rest should be done via private equity funds and via direct investments by transnational corporations (maybe under national governments' guarantees). It would provide for a better oversight and better results.”
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In any case, it would be wise to avoid (to the extent possible) competition between private money and "stupid" money -- like some major international development banks (for whom re-building Ukraine might turn into a single major direction of investment) and other multinational financial organizations.
Installing "tsars" would be a mistake. In any case, the best way forward would be to have a couple of dozens of private equity funds (rather) than some kind of a "super-official". Who in any case would not be able to monitor or manage this gigantic effort.
Also, any major re-building shall be accompanied by drastic reform of the judicial system and our numerous (but mostly ineffective and often antagonistic) anti-corruption bodies. Otherwise, we will have major problems.
NOTE: We welcome responses to our emails, and we will be happy to include them in future postings.
6/4/2023 Sitrep (my comment in bold face)
The Recent Russian Incursions on the Russian Federation
From Bohdan - “The recent military incursions of Russian volunteer groups attacking the russian state have been accompanied by several articles in the international press about paramilitary groups in russia proper working on the behalf of corporations and oligarchs. If the press is correct then a fratricidal power struggle is brewing in russia. Perhaps Ukraine's counterattack is the judicious use of time to allow russia to tear itself apart?”
From Robert - I have been watching all this with a certain amount of amusement. Ukraine has been using many of the tropes Russia used during the 2014 invasion of Crimea, about Russian citizens currently fighting in Russian territory, arming themselves with weapons purchased at sporting goods stores. Yesterday the Russian citizens invading Russia issued a radio broadcast telling citizens of Belgorod Oblast that there was going to be a referendum held on Sunday (today) to create the Belgorod People’s Republic. Shortly after this “announcement,” it was reported that looting was taking place, in stores located in areas where the fighting is going on, along with the looting of houses owned by Russians who had decided to flee. Russia may have found a source of supply for more washing machines – their own citizens. Meanwhile, apparently Russia is launching artillery attacks against towns where the ”Russian invaders” are suspected to be located and, to create even more confusion, “Russian invaders” are reportedly donning local police uniforms, leading the Russian Government to tell citizens not to listen to orders from the police.
Meanwhile, I don’t know what to make of the vitriol going back and forth between Prigozhin, Kadyrov and the Russian Defense Ministry. Does it really show fractures in the Russian command structure, or is it all a bizarre Molière farce, designed to confuse Ukraine and its Western partners? Seems like the former, but one never knows.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon June 3 to 12:00 noon June 4, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Sunday June 4
12:01 am: China promised to expand military communications with Ukraine and contribute to ending the war with the Russian Federation — Bloomberg.
· These issues were discussed at the meeting of Ministers Li Shanfu and Oleksiy Reznikov at the "Dialogue Shangri-La" forum, Ukrainian Deputy Minister Volodymyr Gavrylov said.
· "They are ready to communicate to expand contacts between the Ukrainian and Chinese military leadership. I hope we will see some dynamics after the meeting," he said.
12:52 am: Scholz sharply responded to critics of providing arms to Ukraine, - Die Bild
· "Putin is the instigator of the war, he invaded Ukraine with 200,000 soldiers. Putin wants to destroy and conquer Ukraine."
9:15 am: The counteroffensive of the Armed Forces will be impressive and will reach its climax in the first three to four days, - ex-director of the CIA, General David Petraeus, on BBC Radio 4.
9:58 am: The heads of the world's top 20 intelligence agencies held a secret meeting in Singapore, - Reuters
· There they discussed the conflict in Ukraine and transnational crime. The meeting was attended by intelligence officials of the USA, China, India, etc. Representatives of Ukraine and Russia were not there, the agency writes.
Saturday June 3
12:55 pm: In Singapore, at the Shangri-La Security Summit, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov held a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu.
· The details of the conversation are currently not being disclosed.
3:20 pm: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine criticized the so-called "peace plan" proposed by Indonesia for Ukraine.
· The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Nikolenko emphasized that there are no disputed territories between Ukraine and the Russian Federation to hold referendums there, and the occupation of part of Ukraine is a fact recorded in official UN documents.
· Nikolenko also invited Indonesia to join the peace formula proposed by Ukraine.
4:20 pm: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was re-elected as the President of Turkey, was sworn in at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly.
8:54 pm: The Head of EU Diplomacy Borrell discussed with the Minister of Defense of South Korea Lee Jong-sup the needs of Ukraine in ammunition.
· Josep Borrell wrote about this on Twitter.
· It is known that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the security summit in Singapore.
11:00 pm: The European Commission does not plan to restrict entry into the EU for men of draft age from Ukraine.
· This was stated by the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johanson.
· "For the European Union, all Ukrainians who arrive as refugees during this period are under the umbrella of the Temporary Protection Directive," Johanson said.
NATIONAL
Sunday June 4
7:06 am General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Tonight, the Russians launched another missile attack on Ukraine. Information regarding the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified.
· Last day, they launched 2 missile strikes on the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions using the Iskander OTRK. In addition, they carried out 30 airstrikes and fired 56 rounds of anti-aircraft fire.
· Russians continue to focus their main efforts on attempts to fully occupy Luhansk and Donetsk regions. During the past day, 23 combat clashes took place.
· the aviation of the defense forces has carried out 11 strikes on personnel concentration areas, as well as 6 - on anti-aircraft missile complexes of the Russian Federation.
· 6 reconnaissance UAVs were destroyed, as well as 2 Lancet type attack UAVs. Units of missile troops and artillery hit the control post, an anti-aircraft missile complex, 6 artillery units in firing positions and 3 ammunition depots.
7:57 am: 4 cruise missiles and 3 attack drones were destroyed tonight, - Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· the Russians used 5 Iranian strike UAVs "Shahed-136/131" from the Bryansk region, as well as 6 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-based cruise missiles - fired from six Tu-95ms strategic bombers from the Caspian region.
11:22 am: Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk visited five commanders from "Azovstal" who are in Turkey under the protection and security guarantees of President Erdogan.
· This included commanders of the regiment of the National Guard "Azov" Denys Prokopenko ("Radis"), his deputy Svyatoslav Palamar ("Viburnum"), acting commander of the 36th separate brigade of marines Serhiy Volynskyi ("Volyn"), Oleg Khomenko and Denis Shlega from NSU.
Saturday June 3
2:34 pm: The State Investigation Bureau reported suspicion to the military due to additional payments to subordinates.
· During May-August 2022, the deputy commander of the company for moral and psychological support of one of the military units of the Rivne region did not initiate the exclusion of violators of discipline from the lists for bonuses and additional payments. Thus, 16 people systematically received payments of additional remuneration of UAH 30,000.
· Due to the inaction of the military, the state lost about 1 million hryvnias.
2:55 pm: In the Black Sea, there are 9 enemy ships on combat duty, 2 of them carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, a total salvo of up to 16 missiles, — the Navy of Ukraine.
3:51 pm: SBU military counter-intelligence destroyed the BUK-M1 anti-aircraft missile complex and three TOR-2M, the SBU reported.
· In addition, the fighters of the unit also destroyed three Nona self-propelled guns, 3 BMPs, 2 tanks, an electronic warfare station and enemy fortifications.
· And in cooperation with the artillerymen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they destroyed another 84 units of enemy weapons. Among them: 7 tanks, 6 "Grads" and 6 self-propelled guns, 11 guns, 21 armored vehicles and other equipment.
6:21 pm: More than 60 thousand women stand in defense of Ukraine, more than 42 thousand of them are female military servicemen.
· This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in Telegram.
· "For comparison, in 2021, before the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of women in the ranks of the Armed Forces was about 30,000," the report says.
7:33 pm Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on June 3:
· "The enemy continues to disregard the laws and customs of war, uses terror tactics, strikes, and fires at both military and civilian targets.
· In general, during the day, the enemy carried out 19 air strikes and carried out more than 10 attacks from rocket salvo systems."
· "The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
· During the day, the occupiers launched 16 attacks, but all of them were repelled by units of the defense forces."
· "Russian occupying forces continue to put pressure on citizens of Ukraine and violate human rights in the temporarily occupied territories.
· In particular, in Henichesk, Kherson region, in the basements of the building of the former tax inspectorate, citizens of Ukraine with a pro-Ukrainian position are forcibly detained."
· "Russian occupiers continue to use the infrastructure of temporarily occupied settlements to provide medical aid to their wounded servicemen.
· Recently, in the settlement of Skadovsk, Kherson Region, on the territory of a kindergarten, the invaders set up a field hospital, where more than 50 occupiers with injuries of varying degrees of severity are being treated."
· "The aviation of the Defense Forces struck 11 airstrikes on personnel concentration areas during the day.
· Our defenders destroyed 3 enemy reconnaissance UAVs.
· During the day, units of missile troops and artillery hit the control post, 1 anti-aircraft missile complex and 3 ammunition warehouses.
10:18 am: During the night attack of the Russian Federation, drones hit infrastructure facilities in the Sumy region. Also, 2 rockets hit the operational airfield near Kropyvnytskyi, said Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
11:26 pm: The State Border Service is strengthening measures and strengthening control over border crossings using the "Path" System.
· Currently, 38 licensees have been temporarily suspended from accessing the system, 126 persons have been notified of suspicion, and 4 persons have been convicted. The corresponding decisions were made as a result of cases of using the system for the purpose of further non-return to the territory of Ukraine.
MORDOR - Russia
Sunday June 4
4:32 am: In Crimea, private houses were damaged as a result of explosions, reported Oleg Kryuchkov, adviser to the self-proclaimed head of Crimea Serhiy Aksyonov.
· A drone was allegedly shot down in Dzhankoy, he said.
9:13 am Institute for the Study of War: The head of the "Wagner" PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin uses partisan raids in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation in his own propaganda and wants to take his own units to the border with Ukraine to avoid new losses.
11:44 am: The so-called "head" of the temporarily occupied Crimea announced a nighttime attack on the region by nine drones
· "Five UAVs were shot down by air defense forces, four more were silenced and planted by EW devices. Glass was broken in three private sector houses and two cars in the city of Dzhankoy," - Aksyonov.
Saturday June 3
1:12 pm: SBU is behind yesterday's liquidation of collaborators in Zaporizhzhia region. We publish unique photos of the explosive device.
· According to our sources, the liquidated Serhii Didovidiuk was part of a narrow circle of special confidants of the occupiers, resolved personnel issues, and most importantly - wrote denunciations of patriots and personally indicated which of them should be tortured.
· The "explosive greeting" was planted in the "Niva" car, where, in addition to Didovidyuk, there was his wife and 33-year-old daughter Yana. By the way, the daughter is an active collaborator and deputy of the "head of the military-civil administration of Mykhailovka village" of Vyacheslav Bidnyak. And his common-law wife is also part-time.
4:51 pm: Russia transfers paratrooper units to Bakhmut, — British intelligence.
· In particular, experts identify the reinforcements that arrived as parts of the 76th and 106th divisions and two additional separate airborne brigades.
· At the same time, analysts note that "the Airborne Forces have greatly degraded compared to their elite status before the invasion" due to losses.
5:23 pm: The Russian Volunteer Corps reports that its fighters are again on their way to the task in the Belgorod region.
· "In this gray zone that suddenly formed (the border zone in the Belgorod region - ed.), the RDK is trying to gain a foothold in order to restore order later," the message reads.
5:55 pm: The "Wagnerians" have not yet completely left Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar reports.
· According to her, they carry out instructional work with the arriving units of the regular army of the Russian Federation.
· "We control the southwestern outskirts of the city," Malyar added.
6:57 pm: New interception of GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine:
· A military serviceman of the Russian Federation asks his wife to contact the military prosecutor's office in connection with the leadership's inhumane treatment of soldiers.
KHARKIV
Sunday June 4
10:39 am Kharkiv RMA: This morning, the Russians once again massively shelled the city of Vovchansk. In the city, an administrative building was damaged, 2 houses and farm buildings were partially destroyed.
· In addition, in the morning the Russians shelled the village from helicopters. Ivashka As a result of the morning tank shelling of the village. Guryev Kozachok recorded a direct hit to the building of the House of Culture, which suffered significant damage.
LUHANSK
Sunday June 4
8:25 am: In Svatovo, Luhansk region, on June 2, about 40 servicemen of the Russian occupation forces who voluntarily left their combat positions deserted - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· In connection with this, in order to search for Russian deserters, 2 Russian helicopters and a unit of the Russian Guard were involved.
DONETSK
Saturday June 3
12:31 pm Donetsk RMA: In the morning, the Russians struck Slovyansk — they aimed at the House of Life and the territory of Shovkovychny Park.
· A cultural institution was damaged in the Volnovasky direction, and power lines were cut.
· In the Donetsk direction, 9 houses were damaged in Ostrivske.
· 2 non-residential buildings were destroyed, 3 high-rise buildings and 3 private houses were damaged in the Horliv direction in the Chasovoyarsk community.
· 5 houses were damaged in the Lysychansk direction in Siversk. In the Lyman community, 3 houses were damaged in Torsky, 3 houses and an administrative building in Yampol. 11 houses and a medical facility were damaged in Zvanivka, 3 houses were damaged in Pereizny.
8:21 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Donetsk.
ZAPORIZHIA
Sunday June 4
12:47 am Social Networks: An explosion is heard in Zaporizhzhia, subscribers report. Preliminarily - air defense work. We are waiting for official information.
9:34 am Zaporizhia RMA: the Russians carried out 89 shellings of 22 settlements.
· Gulyaipole, Orihiv, Poltavka, Charivne, Temyrivka, Charivne, Kamianske, Stepove and other frontline villages came under fire. People survived, but 16 destroyed objects were added: houses, apartments, people's property, communications.
Saturday June 3
12:08 pm Zaporizhzhya RMA: Over the past day, 111 strikes were carried out by Russian troops on 24 populated areas of the region.
· A 62-year-old man was injured during the evening attack in Orihiv. During the day, the Russians killed two residents of the region and injured five. So far, 58 destructions of residential buildings and people's property have been recorded.
6:44 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Melitopol.
6:48 pm Social Networks: Explosions are also heard in the temporarily occupied Chernihivka of the Zaporizhzhia region.
6:58 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Berdyansk.
DNIPRO
Sunday June 4
3:53 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
8:10 am Dnipro RMA: At night, the body of a girl was found from under the rubble of a house in Pidhorodnenska hromada. She just turned two years old.
· 22 people were injured, 5 of them were children. Two two-story buildings were partially destroyed. 10 private houses, a car, a shop, and gas pipelines were also damaged.
· The Russians hit Nikopol with artillery. Two cars caught fire. No victims.
Saturday June 3
8:35 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Dnipro.
9:15 pm: Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council Mykola Lukashuk urged residents to stay in shelter until the end of the alarm.
· "Remember that the enemy carefully monitors the network. Therefore, do not publish anything. Wait for official information," Lukashuk noted.
9:58 pm Dnipro RMA: An explosion rang out in the Pidhorodno community of the Dnipro district.
· "Damaged two-story residential building. People under the rubble.
· Preliminarily, there are six victims, among them - a 6-year-old boy. All are hospitalized in a moderate condition," Lysak wrote.
10:45 pm Dnipro RMA: reported that a man was found from under the rubble of a house in the Pidhorodnenska hromada.
· In total, 13 victims are known. Among them are 3 children - boys aged 6, 11 and 15. People remain under the rubble. The search and rescue operation is ongoing.
11:45 pm: The total number of victims in the Podgorodno community of the Dnipropetrovsk region has increased to 20.
· 17 of them were hospitalized, - the head of Dnipro RMA Lysak
· Among the injured are 5 children.
KIROVOHRAD
Sunday June 4
3:32 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Kirograd region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
3:34 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kropyvnytskyi. Preliminarily - air defense work.
KHERSON
Saturday June 3
2:12 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
KYIV
Sunday June 4
2:58 am: Kyiv Municipal Military Administration reports that air defense is operating in the region, on the approaches to Kyiv.
6:10 am Kyiv Municipal Military Administration: according to preliminary information, no air target reached the capital.
· Air defense destroyed everything that was heading towards the city even at distant approaches.
Saturday June 3
1:52 pm: The security guard of the polyclinic in Desnyan district was sent to custody for two months without the right to post bail.
· "He admitted his guilt: he said that after the alarm started, he went to open the door of the polyclinic to let people in, but he didn't have time," Suspilne writes.
2:14 pm: Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko reported that today he personally inspected some civil defense shelters in the city.
· "I stopped by today unannounced to inspect some shelters, about which we received complaints from Kyivans. I recorded the picture, we will work. In Kyiv, a digital feedback mechanism was created. Control groups will respond promptly and we will correct the situation," Klitschko said.
8:25 pm: Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko checked the condition of shelters in the Obolon district.
· The relevant inspection took place with the participation of the Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, who headed the government commission for inspection of shelters in Kyiv.
· "We saw both problematic and properly equipped shelters. It is clear that there is a lot to work on. We talked to people," Klitschko wrote.
SUMY
Sunday June 4
3:35 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Sumy region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
3:45 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Shostka, Sumy Region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
4:14 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Sumy.
Saturday June 3
3:06 am: Explosions are heard in Cherkasy, subscribers report. We are waiting for official information.
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://espreso.tv/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka