Military Overview On June 17: Pounding Ukrainian Rear, Russian Army Advances On FrontlinesSouth Front

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The Russian army continues advance in different directions on Ukrainian frontlines, pounding Ukrainian rear regions with devastating precision strikes.

On the night of June 17, a series of Russian strikes were reported in eastern Ukrainian regions. At about midday, more targets were destroyed in the central and southern parts of the country.

At night, explosions thundered in the border Kharkiv region, where the Russian army launched offensive about two months ago. Targets were also destroyed in the city of Kharkiv.

According to local reports, at least one of the temporary deployment points of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed. The Russian Aerospace Forces launched the strike with a single heavy bomb with universal correction module. The target was a children’s camp used for accommodation of the Ukrainian military. The local Ukrainian authorities as always accused the Russian military of another alleged attack on a civilian facility; but there is no secret that Ukrainian servicemen use various civilian facilities for military purposes. The local sources confirmed that the single Russian bomb destroyed the building full of Ukrainian servicemen and foreign militants. The precision of the strike caused the rumors that it was targeted with the help of pro-Russian local residents.

In the morning, Ukrainian military sources reported Russian strikes in the city of Voznesensk in the Mykolaiv region. The strike was reportedly launched with a ballistic missile which reached its target. The local Ukrainian authorities did not reveal the damaged facility which means that the target was likely of the strategic importance.

Another Russian strike was reported in the Zaporozhie region. Russian Iskander missile reportedly destroyed another US-made M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System with ATACMS missiles deployed near the settlement of Shevchenkovskoe near the city of Zaporizhia. The position of the MLRS was first spotted by the Russian reconnaissance UAV that targeted the successful missile strike.

Russian strikes continued in the daytime. Footage from the Poltava region confirmed damage as a result of the Russian attack. Several explosions thundered in the region. According to preliminary reports, the military airfield of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city of Mirgorod came under missile strike. The Air Force of Ukraine confirmed the launch of Russian missiles at the military facility. Unconfirmed reports claimed that there were people in the ruins of undisclosed destroyed facility. The electricity was cut off in some districts of the city after the attack.

Russian strikes are likely to continue during the day.

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Destroying Ukrainian military reserves in the rear regions, the Russian Army maintains the military initiative in different directions on Ukrainian frontlines.

The Kharkiv region is inflamed by heavy battles. The Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted large counterattacks in order to show victories on the eve of Zelensky’s summit in Switzerland. However, the Ukrainian military failed to present any strategic gains. So far, Ukrainian forces have achieved soma tactical victories in the region.

According to the latest reports from the Kharkiv region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine took back control of the village of Tikhoe located on the eastern outskirts of Volchansk. Clashes continue in the area. If Ukrainian advance confirmed, the Ukrainian military is yet to secure the gained positions.

Ukrainian infantry destroyed by Russian drone strikes:

Meanwhile, clashes continue in the center of Volchansk. The AFU attempt to transfer reserves across the Volchya river and launch counterattacks. There is fighting in the area of the local aggregate plant, where the Ukrainian military is trying to dislodge Russian troops from their positions.

To the west, Ukrainian counterattacks forces the Russian military to retreat from the outskirts of Liptsy towards the village of Glubokoe which remains under the control of the Russian Army. Deploying large forces with NATO vehicles, the Ukrainian military command is transferring additional forces for counterattacks in the area. As a result, Ukrainian and NATO losses are growing.

Striker destroyed near Glubokoe:

In its daily briefing on June 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the North group of forces pushed the AFU from their positions in the areas of Volchansk, Glubokoe, Sinelnikovo and Liptsy in the Kharkiv region. ‘Counterattack of the Ukrainian assault group was repelled. The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this area amounted to up to 300 soldiers, 4 pickups, 2 howitzers, and a Grad MLRS combat vehicle.’

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In the Kupyansk direction, the soldiers of the Russian army expanded the zone of their control and repelled the AFU from all strongholds east of Sinkovka. The battle is ongoing for control of the village of Petropavlovka located on the eastern outskirts of Kupyansk.

Positional battles continue along the Torskoye-Terny-Makeyevka line in the Krasny Liman direction, as well as in the Serebryansk forestry.

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The Russian Army achieved new gains in the Seversk direction. Russian forces advanced from their positions near Nikolaevka and approached the Razdolovka railway station. At the same time, Russian forces advanced along the railways towards the village of Vyemka.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, units of the Zapad group of forces took control of more advantageous positions and defeated formations of the 14th, 43rd, 44th, 116th mechanized and 3rd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Shyikovka, Sinkovka, Peski-Radkovskie, Druzhdovka of the Kharkiv region and Nevsky in the Luhansk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 405 servicemen, three armored combat vehicles, seven vehicles, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery installations, Nota electronic warfare station.

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Heavy battles continue for every building in Chasov Yar. Ukrainian servicemen deployed firing points in all high-rise buildings and they try to hold control of them under heavy Russian artillery fire and massive airstrikes. Despite Ukrainian resistance, the Russian troops are slowly advancing on the streets of the northeastern districts of the city. Ukrainian military sources confirm Russian advance in the Novy district after the Russian military destroyed all the crossings across the Seversky Donets-Donbass kanal. The situation of the AFU in the area is deteriorating, since they have only one route left for military supplies and rotation. The offensive in the city is led by Russian paratroopers from the 98th Airborne division. A separate motorized rifle brigade breaks through the Ukrainian defense to the north of the city. They are expanding the zone of their control advancing in Kalinovka.

Russian paratroopers in action in Chasov Yar:

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units of the Center group of forces improved the tactical situation and defeated formations of the 47th mechanized, 68th Jaeger, 144th Infantry Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 109th Air Defense Brigade in the areas of Vozdvizhenka, Kamyshevka, Novaya Poltavka settlements of the Donetsk People’s Republic. During the day, four counterattacks of the assault groups of the 23rd, 47th mechanized and 68th Jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled. Enemy losses amounted to up to 335 military personnel, a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle manufactured in the United States, a MaxxPro armored combat vehicle manufactured in the United States and two vehicles.

Ukrainian servicemen captured prisoners in the Ocheretino direction:

The Russian Army is advancing in different areas in the Avdeevka direction. Russian forces are expanding the zone of their control north of Ocheretino, advancing towards Kalinovo. A number of Ukrainian strongholds near the village were captured by Russian servicemen. Russian forces broke through Ukrainian defense and advanced in the center of Novoaleksandrovka. At the same time, they expanded the zone of their control west and southwest of the town. Heavy battles are ongoing in Sokol, Novopokrovskoe, north of Umanskoe and Yasnoborodovka.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine massively use drones in an attempt to slow down the offensive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the units of the Southern group of troops improved the situation along the front edge, and also defeated the manpower and equipment of the 93rd mechanized, 79th airborne assault, 46th airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Katerinovka, Alexandro-Shultino and Gornyak of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 535 soldiers, two armored personnel carriers, three pickups, two 155 mm M777 howitzers made in the USA, two 152 mm D-20 howitzers and a 122 mm D-30 gun. Two ammunition depots were also destroyed.

Ukrainian infantry destroyed in Krasnogorovka:

In the South Donetsk direction, the Russian troops continue successful offensive operations around Maryinka. According to preliminary reports, the village of Georgievka came under the full Russian control. Clashes began in the eastern part of Maximilianovka. At the same time, Russian forces achieved new gains in the town of Krasnogorovka and took control of another quarter in the center of the settlement.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Vostok group of forces occupied more advantageous positions, defeated the manpower and equipment of the 72nd mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 102nd and 128th air defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Velikaya Novoselka of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Varvarovka in the Zaporozhye region. They repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 123rd Air Defense Brigade of the AFU and the 31st National Guard Brigade. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 150 servicemen, three vehicles, two 155 mm Krab self-propelled artillery units made in Poland and two 155 mm FH-70 howitzers made in Great Britain. Two field ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were also destroyed.

In the Zaporozhye region, the Russian military took control of the village of Zagornoe. This was officially confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense on June 16. Since them Russian forces advanced in the area and took control of Ukrainian positions north of the Mirnoye-Zagornoye highway.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated forces of the 128th mountain assault and 141st infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Zherebyanka and Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye region. The losses of the Armed Forces amounted to up to 50 servicemen, two vehicles, a 152 mm D-20 cannon, as well as a 122 mm D-30 howitzer.

Despite the ongoing attempts of the Ukrainian military and their NATO ‘instructors’ to launch counterattacks in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian military is losing strategically. Forced to accumulate large forces in one direction, the Ukrainian Army is retreating on all other frontlines.