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Ukraine Invasion Day 469: "the pace will increase every day" [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-06-06

Specialized brigades, some recently trained by NATO, are expected to lead the counteroffensive as the so-called tip of the spear. Ecocide: the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast suffered more than the right one after the Russian invaders blew up the Kakhovka dam overnight on June 6, “the single most damaging event of the war so far.

This Russian Ka-52 attack chopper crew thought that they have targeted and destroyed Leopard 2 tanks (you read this correctly). x This is possible the dumbest kill video of this whole war and I really mean it.



This Russian Ka-52 attack chopper crew thought that they have targeted and destroyed Leopard 2 tanks (you read this correctly).



Even a semi-professional can clearly see that this are agricultural… pic.twitter.com/cvfgqA9tfj — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) June 6, 2023 not John Deere 4830.

x ⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - JUN 6



Highest single-day monetary losses since Feb 11, $2.0B in last 30 days



DEVELOPMENT:

$2.0B in the last 30 days ⬆

$199M reported today ⬆



Missiles account for half of today's reported losses



📈 https://t.co/ZPmZsp7nou pic.twitter.com/vOEdZE7F5o — Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦 [email protected] (@ragnarbjartur) June 6, 2023

x “The Armed Forces of Ukraine are now shaking the enemy’s defenses along the entire front, conducting combat reconnaissance, looking for weak points.” https://t.co/GiL0ezfFyj — Mick Ryan, AM (@WarintheFuture) June 6, 2023

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s military made gains against Russian forces in multiple locations along the eastern front, the country’s deputy defense minister said Monday, as an increasing cadence in combat operations raised speculation that the much-anticipated counteroffensive was finally imminent. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that troops conducted multiple “offensive actions” in the eastern Donetsk region despite “stiff resistance and the enemy’s attempts to hold the occupied lines and positions.” But Ukrainian officials denied claims by Moscow that they had launched the counteroffensive — and that Russian troops had thwarted it. A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had started the counteroffensive by trying to push through five areas of the Russian line in Donetsk but had been repelled. The statement by Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, in a video posted by the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti, could not be verified. Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army’s eastern command, called the Russian claim “delusional.” Maliar denied that the operation to push Russian forces back and eventually out of Ukraine was underway. Any offensive efforts, she said, were confined to an ongoing push around Bakhmut, the regional capital of Donetsk. Ukrainian forces advanced between 200 and 1,600 meters in the area near the town of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and in Paraskoviivka, north of Bakhmut, Maliar said. Soldiers pushed between 100 and 700 meters near Ivanivske, also close to Bakhmut, she said. Ukrainian officials have cautioned repeatedly in recent days that no single action would mark the start of the counterattack, nor would it be announced. But military analysts on Monday said the front-line activity could indicate its early stages. An officer in a Ukrainian assault brigade in the southeast region told The Washington Post the counteroffensive has begun and his unit is ready to join. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to provide details. A unit near his pushed ahead yesterday, he said, and destroyed eight Russian tanks. For now, he said, Ukraine is focused on reconnaissance operations, “but the pace will increase every day.” www.washingtonpost.com/...

x russian troops attacked the ammonia pipeline for the second time in the Kupyansk district, Kharkiv Oblast.

6 "arrivals" were recorded in the area of the pumping station near the village of Masyutivka today, - the head of the reports. — Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) June 6, 2023 www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast) Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line on June 6. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks near Kreminna, Bilohorivka (10km south of Kreminna), and Berestove (30km south of Kreminna).[51] A Russian milblogger claimed that unspecified elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army (Western Military District) repelled Ukrainian attacks in the Kupyansk direction.[52] www.understandingwar.org/... x There is nothing left of the city. pic.twitter.com/yFfhxQtjTo — Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 5, 2023 Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian Objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas) Click here to read ISW’s retrospective analysis on the Battle for Bakhmut. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks north and southwest of Bakhmut. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that elements of the Southern Grouping of Forces (Southern Military District) repelled four Ukrainian assaults near Klishchiivka (7km southwest of Bakhmut) and Berkhivka (6km north of Bakhmut).[53] A prominent Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces entered Berkhivka and that fighting was ongoing in the settlement as of the afternoon of June 6.[54] Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin previously claimed on June 5 that Ukrainian forces had captured an unspecified part of Berkhivka.[55] Other Russian sources claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian assaults near Berkhivka and that Ukrainian assaults occurred at least two kilometers away from the settlement.[56] www.understandingwar.org/... www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes) Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks in southwestern Donetsk and in eastern Zaporizhia oblasts on June 6. A Kremlin-affiliated milblogger reported that Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the area of Novodarivka (15km southwest of Velyka Novosilka), Rivnopil (11km southwest of Velyka Novosilka), and Neskuchne (2km south of Velyka Novosilka).[68] Russian “Vostok“ volunteer battalion commander Alexander Khodakovsky claimed that Russian forces recaptured Novodonetske (12km southeast of Velyka Novosilka) on June 6 after Ukrainian forces nearly liberated the entire settlement on June 5.[69] …. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked in the direction of Novosilka (10km west of Velyka Novosilka).[73] Ukrainian Defense Forces Tavriisk Direction Spokesperson Captain Valeriy Shershen stated that Russian forces are continuing defensive operations in the Novopavlivka and Orikhiv operational directions in Zaporizhia and western Donetsk oblasts.[74] www.understandingwar.org/... www.understandingwar.org/...

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhova denies that the dam has been blown up and claims that everything is “calm” in the city. A strong indicator that the Russians did it. Emergency services on the Russian occupied side of Kherson have declared a state of emergency, saying that more than 600 houses have been flooded. The Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kakhova, who initially dismissed the collapse, is now calling it a Ukrainian terrorist attack. The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhova denies that the dam has been blown up and claims that everything is “calm” in the city. A strong indicator that the Russians did it. x The Russian fascist invaders may be preparing to withdraw from Kherson region.



The rashists filled holding ponds in Yakymivka district, Zaporizhzhya region, and then blew them up. This caused flooding of the M-14 highway (the route to Kherson) and a wide area of the countryside. pic.twitter.com/2s2MJjrUM9 — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) June 6, 2023 The collapse of a Ukrainian dam was likely caused by an internal blast, experts say. x Russians have already destroyed much of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia water distribution systems, the destruction of #KakhovkaHPP is a dagger through the heart of south Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/0lLRTfq2MJ — David Helms (@davidhelms570) June 6, 2023 For years, it served as Crimea’s main water resource, but shortly after the annexation, Ukraine blocked the flow of water. Russia restored it after invading last year and occupying the territory around the canal. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said in a briefing on Tuesday that water levels in the reservoir were falling as a result of the dam’s destruction, reducing supply to the canal. Only a small portion of the canal’s water supply is used for drinking water. Most of it is used for agricultural purposes in Crimea. Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-installed leader of Crimea, said on Tuesday that there was a risk of the water in the canal becoming shallow. Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Mr. Aksyonov said that 40 million cubic meters of water remained in the canal and that work was being done to minimize losses. He said reservoirs in Crimea were 80 percent full, adding that there was sufficient drinking water for the peninsula’s residents. www.nytimes.com/... x russia deliberately destroyed the homes of these Ukrainians today and risked all their lives. pic.twitter.com/DCyDfmgAP3 — Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) June 6, 2023 Ukrainian officials offered assurances that the damage to the dam and subsequent flooding will not impede Ukrainian counteroffensive preparations. Zelensky emphasized that the “detonation of the dam did not affect Ukraine’s ability to de-occupy its own territories.”[38] Ukrainian Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev noted that the Ukrainian command has already taken into account Russia’s propensity for ”insidious actions” and that as a result any potential planned counteroffensive actions will not be impacted in areas where there is flooding.[39] It is additionally noteworthy that the areas of the theater that are impacted by the flooding (those within a 120km flood radius between Nova Kakhovka and Kizomys) are geographically very far removed from areas of the frontline where ISW has observed recent combat activity in the past few days.[40] The flooding of the lower Dnipro will not likely have any impact on the areas that have seen active fighting recently. www.understandingwar.org/...

x 300 animals died today in the Nova Kakhovka zoo due to russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam.

This is ecocide.

The russians want to destroy anything that is alive. pic.twitter.com/OlTdQMLkuT — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 6, 2023

x So, based on everything we have seen by the end of this day, I guess here's my humble theory regarding the Kakhovka Dam destruction:

- Russia, as an occupying power, in violation of international law and despite multiple Ukrainian pleas, completely failed to ensure the security… — Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) June 6, 2023 - Russia, as an occupying power, in violation of international law and despite multiple Ukrainian pleas, completely failed to ensure the security and proper maintenance of this key facility of very special importance. - Russia, despite Ukrainian and international efforts, absolutely failed to impose a demilitarized zone surrounding this key facility, and, similarly to facilities like the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, it absolutely failed to abstain from deploying military forces in the facility's vicinity. - And, in the first place, by default, as an aggressor waging a destructive war of conquest and openly defying the law of war, it is directly and solely responsible for the whole of the ongoing massive loss of life and the destruction taking place in Ukraine. So it's more than obvious that regardless of the destruction's very immediate cause (be it Russian bombs planted or deadly Russian negligence), all 100% of the blame is on nothing but Russia. I guess no one is taking seriously a dumb conspiracy theory saying that the dam could be destroyed by Ukraine -- for the sake of... causing a major technological disaster, with over 80 cities and towns flooded and the whole region affected, in a territory it pursues to liberate from the foreign aggressor to no substantial military effect? With or without the major flooding, Ukraine is not even close to seriously expecting a successful and decisive landing operation in the Dnipro east bank, due to very obvious challenges and complexities. So, given the fact that the sudden disaster also seriously affected Russia's military presence in the region -- I guess the most probable answer is that Russians fucked things up. Yes, AGAIN. As they often do. They absolutely failed to ensure the dam's proper operation, especially given its poor condition, and, knowingly committed gross violations, very possibly due to the fear of a possible limited Ukrainian assault from across the Dnipro. Fucking around and finding out, Vol. 45633. Knowing what Russia and its system is, the insane stupidity, IMHO, feels like a very likely answer. The result is what we're seeing now live. An insane tragedy for Ukraine that we will have to deal with for decades to come. However, the dildo of consequence is coming soon, too. Again. x Tucker releases his very first episode of his new show ‘Tucker on Twitter’ tonight. Naturally, he opens up making the case that Ukraine blew up their own dam. pic.twitter.com/HwUz67omwP — Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 6, 2023

x "U.S. intelligence is pointing to #Russia being behind the destruction of a massive dam in #Ukraine", reports Reuters, citing NBC. https://t.co/9hnKgAt70c — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 6, 2023

x "Europe’s energy map is changing to reflect Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. That’s a good thing, and must continue." @ASabadus https://t.co/wI4JPaCHos — CEPA (@cepa) June 6, 2023

x 🛰My latest w @CEPA:



Private geospatial imaging satellites have played a transformational role to expose actors attempting to circumvent Russia energy sanctions & tech export controls.



Democracies should keep supporting vital #SpaceTech to help Ukraine.https://t.co/kwEHNs4NK2 — Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt🇺🇦 (@BLSchmitt) June 6, 2023

I never agree with crypto-fascist Bret Stephens yet Ukraine needs armaments and long-run security guarantees, but not necessarily like one that Israel has, unless Bret is endorsing a return to the pre-1994 situation where Ukraine has nuclear weapons and the pre-2014 border.

Winning comes in two flavors. The first, and riskier, is to provide Kyiv with the weapons it needs — mainly long-range guided missiles, more tanks, Predator drones and F-16s — not only to push Russia out of the territories it seized in this war, but to retake Crimea and the breakaway “republics” in the east. This is what Ukrainians want, and what they are morally and legally entitled to. But retaking Crimea will be hard, and even success will come with costs, primarily in the form of populations that aren’t necessarily eager to be liberated by Kyiv. Hence the second flavor: To help Ukraine restore its pre-February 2022 borders, but no further — with compensation in the form of membership in the European Union and a bilateral U.S.-Ukraine security treaty modeled on America’s security cooperation with Israel. Would this increase America’s exposure to Russian aggression? No, it would diminish it, for the same reason Putin didn’t dare attack the NATO-member Baltic States but twice attacked Ukraine: Dictators prey on the weak, not the strong. Would it satisfy Ukraine’s need for security? Yes, both in guaranteed access to Europe’s markets and America’s arms. And would it humiliate Putin? In the best way possible, by showing him and other despots, within and beyond Russia, that aggression against democracies never pays. www.nytimes.com/...

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/6/2173701/-Ukraine-Invasion-Day-469-the-pace-will-increase-every-day

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