Ukraine Daily

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of an apartment hit by a Russian airstrike in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast. (Kaoru Ng)

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Bloomberg: All EU ambassadors reportedly support Ukraine’s bid ahead of historic EU vote. No EU ambassador opposed the decision to support Ukraine’s bid for EU membership during their meeting on June 20, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The EU’s 27 member states are set to formally grant Ukraine candidate status in Brussels on June 23-24. Candidate status is also being considered for Moldova and Georgia, should they meet the necessary conditions.

Zelensky to attend first session of NATO summit in Madrid virtually. President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak virtually at the first inaugural session of the NATO summit set to take place on June 29-30, which will be attended by all 30 member states, according to Ihor Zhovkva, deputy chief of staff for the president.

Putin: Russia’s newest nuclear-capable ICBM Sarmat will be deployed for duty this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 21 that Russia will further strengthen its armed forces, “taking into account potential threats and risks.” The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is capable of carrying ten or more nuclear warheads and decoys. Putin and Russian propagandists have often resorted to nuclear blackmail during the ongoing Russian invasion in an apparent effort to intimidate Ukraine and the West.

Ukrainian parliament approves bill to bring customs law in line with EU standards. The bill, which will help Ukraine join the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure, was approved in the first reading.

Governor: Russian forces strike first checkpoint of Azot chemical plant. Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai reported that, as fierce battles continue in Sievierodonetsk’s industrial zone, there are currently 568 people, including 38 children, sheltering in the plant, most of whom are employees of the industrial site and their families. The official also said that doctors are still working in one of the hospitals in Sievierodonetsk.

Institute for the Study of War: ‘Radical reshuffling’ of Russian military command structure may indicate ‘ongoing dysfunction.’ The U.S. think tank reported on June 21 that potential “drastic rotations” in the Russian military may constitute a purge of senior officers blamed for failures in Ukraine. Russian forces are also reportedly advancing successfully in the direction of Lysychansk from the south, rather than crossing the river from Sievierodonetsk, thereby threatening Ukrainian defenses.

UK Defense Ministry: Ukrainian coastal defense neutralizes Russia’s ability for naval control. The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its June 21 intelligence update that Ukraine’s first success of using Western-donated Harpoon anti-ship missiles to destroy a Russian vessel on a resupply mission demonstrates the difficulty Moscow faces to reinforce their forces occupying Snake Island in the Black Sea with weapons and personnel. Ukrainian coastal defense has undermined the viability of Russia’s original plans for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the update said.

Associated Press: Google executive says Ukraine ‘a crystal ball’ for information warfare. Speaking at the UN Security Council on June 21, a Google executive warned that cyberattacks, disinformation, and other forms of information warfare being waged in Ukraine are a “crystal ball” for future problems elsewhere. “States must find a way to turn the volume down and settle on some kind of deterrence doctrine for the cyber domain,” he said.

General Staff: Russia captures communities of Pidlisne, Myrna Dolyna southwest of Sievierodonetsk. The Russian military has also had partial success near Hirske settlement in Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

European Investment Bank chief: Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction may cost $1.1 trillion. “I’ve put the trillion out there because I saw figures in the public space that I consider completely unrealistic when I look at the level of destruction in Ukraine”, European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer said, adding that Europe “will have to play the biggest role” in this effort.

Ukraine’s military: Russian forces suffer “significant losses” after Ukrainian strike on Snake Island. According to Ukraine’s Operational Command “South,” the Ukrainian military operation on the island continues. However, details can not be disclosed until its completion. Russia occupied Snake island in the Black Sea at the very beginning of the full-scale invasion in Feb.

Defense Ministry: Up to 7 Belarusian battalions concentrated near Ukrainian border. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said these battalions are comprised of roughly 3,500 to 4,000 personnel. There are also reportedly Russian troops deployed in Belarus. He added that the Belarusian Army has about 60,000 troops but the country’s dictator Alexander Lukashenko wants to increase the number by another 20,000.

CNN: Captured Americans fighting for Ukraine purportedly held in Russian-occupied Donetsk. Two U.S. nationals fighting alongside Ukrainian forces were taken captive and are allegedly being held in Russian-occupied Donetsk, CNN reported, citing Russian state media. American fighters Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, were interviewed by Russia’s RT channel at a detention center in the occupied part of Donetsk oblast on Friday, according to the report. They are believed to be the first Americans to be taken prisoner by Russia.

Justice Ministry: Ukraine to ban 7 more pro-Russian parties. According to Valeriia Kolomiets, deputy justice minister, 10 pro-Russian parties have already been banned in Ukraine. In May, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law banning parties that support or whitewash Russia’s war against Ukraine and deny the fact that Moscow has illegally occupied Ukrainian territories.

Russia says it has begun broadcasting Kremlin propaganda TV channels in occupied Kherson Oblast. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its forces have reconfigured the last of the seven television towers in the entire region, allowing Russia to broadcast 24 of its TV channels throughout the territory. Russia has also already introduced the ruble and began distributing its passports in the oblast.

General Staff: Russian forces advancing toward Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 21 that heavy fighting is taking place in the settlements of Mykolaivka, Vershyna and Semyhiria around Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. As Russian forces continue their offensive to capture Sievierodonetsk, the report said they fired at civilian infrastructure near Bakhmut, which sits by the road leading to the twin cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk.

Ukraine’s military fires on Russian targets 150 times in southern Ukraine. Ukraine’s Operational Command “South” reported that it killed 49 Russian troops on June 21. It also destroyed two self-propelled howitzers, one artillery tractor, a station for electronic warfare, one ammunition depot, and five armored and military vehicles.

The human cost of Russia’s war

Police: 1,333 bodies of Kyiv Oblast residents killed during Russian occupation found as of June 21. Kyiv Oblast Police Chief Andriy Nebytov reported on TV that 213 of the bodies found have not yet been identified, while another 300 are missing.

Governor: 15 civilians killed, 16 injured due to Russian shelling of Kharkiv Oblast on June 21. According to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov, Russian shelling killed six and injured four people near Chuhuiv. Three people also died near Zolochiv. In Kharkiv, 11 civilians were injured and five killed, among them an 8-year-old.

Governor: 1 civilian killed, 19 injured in Donetsk Oblast after Russian attacks on June 21. According to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, one person was killed in Chasiv Yar settlement. Nineteen people were injured all over the region.

Ukraine returns 35 bodies of fallen soldiers. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said they had been exchanged for 50 bodies of Russian soldiers.

General Staff: Russia has lost 34,100 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 21 that Russia had also lost 1,496 tanks, 3,606 armored vehicles, 2,537 vehicles and fuel tanks, 752 artillery pieces, 239 multiple launch rocket systems, 98 surface-to-air missiles, 181 helicopters, 216 airplanes, 611 drones, and 14 boats.

International response

US announces War Crimes Accountability team to prosecute those committing war crimes in Ukraine. According to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who announced the initiative during his trip to Ukraine on June 21, the team will be made up of experts in investigations involving human rights abuses and war crimes. Eli Rosenbaum, who previously worked on identifying Nazi war criminals, will lead the initiative.

Reuters: EU considers targeting Russian gold in 7th sanctions package. Gold is a crucial asset for Russia’s central bank, which has restricted access to some of its assets abroad because of Western sanctions. Reuters cited anonymous officials familiar with the discussions.

Defense minister: German howitzers delivered to Ukraine. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said Ukraine has received Panzerhaubitze 2000s with trained Ukrainian crews and thanked Germany for support. This appears to be the first delivery of German heavy weapons to Ukraine. In May, Germany announced it would send seven Pazerhaubitze 2000s to Ukraine. Previously German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had been repeatedly accused of blocking arms supplies to Ukraine and constantly breaking his promises on such supplies.

Germany promises to send 30 Gepard self-propelled guns, IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine. The German government published a list of weapons being prepared for supplies to Ukraine, which also includes M113 armored personnel carriers, 10,000 artillery shells, 53,000 anti-aircraft shells, and 5.8 million rounds of ammunition for small arms. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been repeatedly lambasted for blocking weapons supplies to Ukraine and breaking his promises to help the war-torn country.

Business Insider: Germany blocks Slovak tank supplies to Ukraine. Slovakia reached a deal in April to supply Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Ukraine provided that Germany replaces them with 30 Leopard 2A4 tanks. However, Germany has offered 15 Leopard tanks instead of 30, preventing Slovakia from delivering T-72 tanks to Ukraine, German publication Business Insider reported. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been repeatedly lambasted for blocking weapons supplies to Ukraine and breaking his promises to help the war-torn country.

US attorney general makes surprise visit to Ukraine, expresses “unwavering support.” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova in Ukraine on June 21. They will discuss efforts by the U.S. and allies to help Ukraine “identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals involved in war crimes” in Ukraine, CNN reported, citing a statement by a U.S. Justice Department official. “The United States is sending an unmistakable message – there is no place to hide. Our partners and we will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable,” Garland said.

In other news

Eugene Czolij: EU must wholeheartedly grant Ukraine candidate status for EU membership. Read the op-ed here.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Asami Terajima, Oleg Sukhov, Anastasiia Lapatina, Thaisa Semenova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Lili Bivings, Teah Pelechaty, Anastasiia Lapatina, and Olena Goncharova.

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