International Desk: Russia has demanded the destruction of at least 7 Leopard tanks made by Germany and 5 ‘Bradley Fighting Vehicles’ (BFV) made by the United States in Ukraine. These advanced weapons and military equipment provided by the West were destroyed in two days while resisting the counterattack of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the largest air exercise in the history of NATO, the US-led military alliance, began on Monday. A total of 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO member states, alliance partner Japan, and Sweden, which is willing to join the alliance, will participate in this 12-day exercise. Reuters
Russian military bloggers reported that Ukrainian forces broke through part of the Russian defense line south of the town of Velika Novosilka and captured several villages, while Russian forces retreated to higher ground. Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Russian Ukrainian official in the Russian-controlled part of the Zaporizhia region, said that Russian forces later retook control of those villages.
Ukraine on Sunday claimed the first success in its counter-offensive against Russia and said it had recaptured some territory. Kiev forces posted several videos on social media, showing them placing a Ukrainian flag on a bombed-out building in the village of Blahdaton in the Donetsk region and posing for photos with their unit’s flag in the nearby village of Neskuchne.
Ukraine says it has made some progress near the city of Bakhmut. Bakhmut fell to Russian forces last month. Ukraine launched its counteroffensive last week after a dam collapsed at the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric plant, further west of Kherson, the main city of the Donetsk region. Due to the collapse of the dam, many areas of the lower reaches of the Dnipro river, including Kherson, were submerged, and the Russian forces stationed on the east bank of the river had to leave their positions and retreat.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that “counterattacks and defensive actions” were underway. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his forces had repelled the first attacks of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has released several videos and photos in recent days showing its KA-52 attack helicopters and drones attacking Ukrainian armored vehicles and tanks. Footage released by the ministry on Saturday showed drones hitting Ukrainian tanks in the Zaporizhia region. Zaporizhia is one of several areas where Kiev forces have launched their counteroffensive.
When asked about the results of the counterattack, a Ukrainian soldier, who did not want to be named, said there had been no significant success.
NATO’s 12-day exercise begins: The largest air exercise in the history of NATO, the US-led military alliance, began on Monday. The exercise is intended to reassure all coalition members and allies and show strength against potential Russian threats. This exercise, named ‘Air Defender 23,” will continue until June 23 under the leadership of Germany. A total of 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO member states, Japan, an alliance ally, and Sweden, which wants to join the alliance, will participate in it.
Another objective of this exercise is to verify security measures against potential drone and cruise missile attacks on NATO-affiliated cities, airports, and seaports and enhance mutual cooperation in war situations. About 10,000 people will participate in the exercise.
Last week, German Army Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhardz presented plans for the exercise. He said that in 2018, after Russia occupied the Crimea region of neighboring Ukraine, the first discussion about the ‘Air Defender’ exercise was held. However, there is no specific target for this exercise. He also said that NATO will ensure the defense of every centimeter of its territory. However, no aircraft will be sent to Kaliningrad (Russia’s border with NATO members Poland and Lithuania) in this exercise. Exercises will be held in Germany, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia.
