Photo : Institute for the Study of War
Photo : Institute for the Study of War
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 28 June, Swissinfo.ch reported on the exchange of ten civilians between Ukraine and Russia. Those held captive by Russia and Belarus were civilians. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President thanked the team which brought back the detainees and the Vatican. Among the exchanged, Nariman Dzhelyal, deputy head of the assembly of the ethnic Crimean Tatar community along with two eastern rite Catholic priests and two other civilians were held in charge of espionage. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for human rights called the exchange as a “historic return.”
On 28 June, Militarnyi reported on the drone strike by Ukraine on an oil depot in the Tambov Oblast region of Russia. According to Maxim Yegorov, the drone allegedly struck the oil depot in the Michurinsky municipal district of the Tambov region. The small fire caused by the attack was controlled with the help of 11 fire crews. Yegorov also added that there were zero casualties and the residents were being evacuated. Earlier, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President noted that Ukraine’s Security Service had struck more than 30 Russian oil refineries, terminals and oil depots.
On 28 June, Daily News reported on Kyiv’s attempt to push for a no-fly zone in western Ukraine by pushing the Western countries to deploy air defence systems along their borders. Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament suggested NATO to deploy air defence missiles along the borders of Poland and Romania to protect industry, energy infrastructure and civilians of western Ukraine. He also added that it would help to secure the borders of Romania and Poland. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister had earlier argued that no agreement stood between Ukraine’s partners to shoot down the Russian missiles over their territory.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 28 June, the TASS reported on the Russian troops’ advances in the south Donetsk area with tanks such as T-80BVM and T-90 Proryv tanks. According to the Ministry of the Defence of the Russian Federation: “Russian troops are now actively advancing in the south Donetsk direction almost along the entire frontline and modern tanks are playing an important role in that.” It was also reported on the crews of T-80BVM and T-90 Proryv tanks of Russia’s Battlegroup East destroying the Ukrainian army strongholds at Ugledar in the south Donetsk region. The tanks were constructed to operate under conditions of heavy fire. The T-80BVM was upgraded recently based on the experience of special military operations carried out in Ukraine.
On 28 June, RT reported on Andrey Belousov, Russian Defence Minister’s order to the Russian military to prepare to counter the West engagement. This comes against the backdrop of NATO’s increasing support to Ukraine in the conflict. According to the statement of the military, the increased number of drones flying over the Black Sea was observed as aerial observation. Russia views such drones as a possibility of confrontation of the West with the Russian military in the airspace. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation added that it would hold NATO members responsible for such events.
On 28 June, the TASS reported on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from strategically important areas near the city of Toretsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Igor Kimakovsky, the advisor to the head of DPR said that the Russian troops were pushing the Ukrainian army from numerous strategic locations in the Donetsk sector of frontline. He also added that the Ukrainian army lost numerous troops in that region.
On 28 June, the TASS reported on the attack of Ukrainian drones in the three districts of the Kursk region. They used 32 UAVs containing electronic warfare systems to attack the villages of Tyotkino, Veseloye and Khodeikovo, Zarya farmstead of the Glushkovo district, the village of Nikolayevo-Daryino of the Sudzha district, and the village of Lokot in the Rylsk district. Alexey Smirnov, Governor of the Kursk region said that 32 drones and the electronic warfare systems were destroyed on 27 June. He added that no casualties had occurred. He also noted that the attack from Ukrainian drones and shelling resulted in the damage of buildings, cars and settlements in the Korenova, Sudzha, Glushkova and Belovskoye districts.
On 28 June, RFERL reported on Putin’s statement on the production of banned short and intermediate long-range missiles. At a session of the Security Council in Moscow, he said Russia should consider producing the missiles that were banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1987. He added that decisions should be taken on where to deploy them for the sake of their security. The INF Treaty banned the production, testing, and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres. Both countries withdrew from it in 2019, blaming each other for breaching the treaty.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses of the US and Europe
On 28 June, Swissinfo.ch reported on the reinforcement of the Belarusian border with Ukraine over a security incident. According to the border service of Belarus, the military staff had to shoot down a Quadro copter since it had illegally crossed the border to collect information about the Belarusian border infrastructure. Earlier the border service also found a homemade bomb in the same area and cited the presence of a unit of pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters in a Ukrainian region bordering Belarus. The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus issued images of Belarusian Polonez multiple rocket systems deployed along the border to which Ukraine did not comment.
On 27 June, Reuters reported on Russia’s plan to lower the level of its diplomatic relations with the West due to the increased involvement of the US in the war in Ukraine. According to Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister the possibility of severing relations with the West was being studied, although no decision was made. Russia considers the war as an extended struggle with the US which seemed to ignore its interests after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Moscow accused the US of the recent attacks in Crimea carried out by Ukraine with US-supplied weapons. In response, Russia carried out nuclear drills practising the launch of weapons within striking distance from the US. It also signed a mutual defence pact with North Korea earlier this month. The escalating tensions between both countries showcase hostile conditions.
On 27 June, France24 reported on Jordan Bardella, leader of the French Far-Right National Rally party’s pledge to support Ukraine and prevent a possible escalation with Russia in a televised debate for the French snap elections. During the debate with Gabriel Attal, France’s Prime Minister and Olivier Faure (socialist leader), he criticised Emmanuel Macron, France’s President for refusing to rule out the possibility of deployment of French troops inside Ukrainian territory. He said: "If I am prime minister tomorrow, French soldiers will not be sent to Ukraine." Bardella also stated his stance against providing longer-range missiles to Ukraine which he believes could hit Russia. Gabriel Attal indicated the possibility of deepened division in the government if the National Rally (Far-Right) wins.
References
“Ukraine’s Zelenskiy: 10 civilians released from captivity in Russia and Belarus,” Swissinfo.ch, 28 June 2024
“A drone strikes an oil depot in the Tambov Oblast of Russia,” MILITARNYI, 28 June 2024
“Kyiv pushes allies to create no-fly zone in western Ukraine,” Daily News, 28 June 2024
“Moscow issues warning over US spy drones,” RT, 28 June 2024
“Tanks playing major role in Russian army’s advance in south Donetsk area — top brass,” TASS, 28 June 2024
“Ukrainian troops withdraw from some important areas near Toretsk — DPR official,” TASS, 28 June 2024
“Electronic warfare systems jam 32 Ukrainian drones in Kursk Region,” TASS, 28 June 2024
“Putin: Russia Should Start Producing Previously Banned Intermediate-Range Missiles,” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 28 June 2024
“Russia mulling downgrading ties with West, Kremlin says,” Reuters, 27 June 2024
“French far-right leader Bardella vows Ukraine will not be absorbed by Russian imperialism,” France 24, 27 June 2024
“Belarus reinforces its border with Ukraine after security incident,” Swissinfo.ch, 28 June 2024