The High Stakes of UKRaine’s Offensive; UKR Counteroffensive: ISW Analyses Success of UKR Defenders; 7 Settlements were Liberated in Counteroffensive; Heavy Fighting Continues on 4 Fronts, 19 Combat Clashes Occurred, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

wsj: The High Stakes of Ukraine’s Offensive:

Ukraine’s counter-offensive has begun against Russian forces in the country’s occupied east and south, and the stakes are extremely high for Kyiv and the West. Let’s hope the reluctance by the Biden Administration, Germany and France to provide more advanced weapons doesn’t hamper the effort.

Ukrainian forces have been probing Russian lines, using armored U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicles and German Leopard 2 tanks. The Russians have built formidable, multi-layered defenses with rows of trenches, concrete barriers and still more trenches with well-armed infantry. The flat and relatively open terrain across much of the front line makes the advancing brigades vulnerable to artillery and aerial assaults, so casualties will likely be high.

This is where the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 190 miles would be valuable in targeting Russian artillery and supplies beyond the front lines. But Washington has refused Kyiv’s request out of fear that Ukraine might use the missiles against targets inside Russia. Ukraine has refrained from doing so with other U.S. weapons, but this excuse has been the Biden pattern for the 16 months of the war.

The Ukrainian goal will be to retake as much territory as possible, and its forces could attack in many places across a 600-mile front. A particular strategic objective will be to drive to the Sea of Azov. This would break up Russian supply lines to its troops in the south. It will also disrupt Russia’s so-called land bridge connecting Russian-occupied Donetsk to the Crimean peninsula. It’s no surprise that Russian defenses are especially fortified in Zaporizhzhia Oblast against such an advance. No one should expect immediate or dramatic breakthroughs, as they could take many weeks or longer.

Crimea is also likely to be a Ukrainian target, even if it can’t be entirely retaken. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to reclaim it. But even putting Crimea at risk will force Russia to spread its forces to defend its air and naval bases on the peninsula. This would also raise the political stakes for Russian President Vladimir Putin. —>READ MORE HERE

Ukrainian counteroffensive: ISW analyses success of Ukrainian defenders:

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported that Ukrainian Defence Forces are continuing to advance near Bakhmut and have made some progress in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Source: ISW

Details: The report noted that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least four fronts on 9 June.

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that Russian troops had repelled limited and localised ground attacks by Ukrainian forces in the vicinity of Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials said that Ukrainian troops had advanced 1.2 kilometres as they continued their offensive near Bakhmut on 8 June.

In addition, Ukrainian Defence Forces continued limited counteroffensive operations in western Donetsk Oblast near the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblast borders on 9 June and made tactical gains in the area.

Ukrainian forces also continued ground attacks in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the night of 8-9 June and during the day on 9 June, and a Russian source suggested that Ukrainian forces had made some progress during these attacks.

The ISW analysts point out that Ukrainian officials have explicitly acknowledged that Ukrainian troops expect to lose equipment during counteroffensive operations.

ISW experts say that the structure of the Russian command responsible for the war in the southern regions of Ukraine is unclear and likely to overlap.

After analysing statements made by the Russian military and their actions, the analysts have concluded that the command relationship between the four Russian military leaders – Romanchuk [Colonel General Alexander Romanchuk, the commander of the Russian forces on the Zaporizhzhia front], Teplinsky [Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, the deputy commander of the Joint Russian forces in Ukraine], Kuzovlev [Colonel General Sergey Kuzovlev, the commander of the southern grouping of the Joint Russian forces in Ukraine] and Gerasimov [Army General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces], who are said to be in charge of Russian troops in the region, remains unclear. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++7 settlements were liberated in counteroffensive – Ukraine’s Defence Ministry+++++

+++++Heavy fighting continues on 4 fronts, 19 combat clashes occurred – General Staff report+++++

Ukrainian forces make local gains in Zaporizhzhia Oblast



Ukraine says Russia blew up dam to prevent offensive in south



Heavy fighting ongoing in Donbas, threat of air attacks across Ukraine



Ukraine already liberating settlements in ‘the most grandiose offensive operation since WWII’



Explosions rock Arabat Spit, hotel housing Russian occupation authorities is hit



Russians fired at a boat with people evacuating from the left bank of Kherson Oblast: killing 3 and injuring 23



Ukraine Says It Retook a Village in the Donetsk Region From Russia



Ukraine says it retakes village in ‘first results’ of counterattack



Military: Ukraine liberates Neskuchne village, reclaims position near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast



Air Force: Ukraine downs 6 Russian drones overnight



How the U.S. Patriot Missile Became a Hero of Ukraine War



Ukraine’s dam collapse is both a fast-moving disaster and a slow-moving ecological catastrophe



Prigozhin says Wagner will not sign contracts with Russia defence minister



Russia and Ukraine swap total of nearly 200 prisoners

Source