Ukraine conflict: Ukraine Strikes Over 200,000 Russian Assets in June as Crimea Becomes Logistical Trap
Ukrainian forces struck over 200,000 Russian military assets in June while repelling nearly 300 daily clashes along the front line in the Ukraine conflict, as Russian troops increasingly rely on Molniya drones for logistics amid Ukrainian strikes that have turned occupied Crimea into a vulnerable supply trap.
June Strike Totals and Logistics Focus
Ukraine's defence forces struck over 200,000 Russian military assets in June, with a focus on logistics including warehouses, transport and supply routes, resulting in nearly 28,000 Russian soldiers killed or seriously wounded. [3] The defence minister reported that the number of strikes on Russian logistics continues to increase, while the number of targets hit over 50 km from the front line nearly doubled. [3] Ukraine's defence forces struck a record number of Russian artillery systems and intercepted 49,575 Russian fixed-wing drones and multirotor drones, the highest figure on record. [3] They also set an all-time record for destroying Russian vehicles and motorcycles. [3] Every strike was verified on video, and e-points enable Ukrainian units to see the battlefield in real time, helping identify effective solutions and scale them across the military. [3]
Russian Use of Molniya Drones for Supply Delivery
Russian forces are using Molniya one-way attack UAVs to deliver supplies on the Lyman front in northern Donetsk Oblast because Ukrainian strikes have forced them to abandon vehicle deliveries and resort to foot and drone transport. [1] Russian troops have begun using Molniya one-way attack UAVs to deliver supplies to their positions due to logistics problems. [1] The use of Molniya drones for logistics has been recorded on the Lyman front in northern Donetsk Oblast. [1] Due to Ukrainian strikes, Russian troops are delivering supplies on foot and using attack drones. [1] Instead of ammunition, they attach the necessary cargo to the sides and fly to their positions. [1] Cargo deliveries using Molniya-type UAVs help Ukrainian forces identify Russian positions, as aerial reconnaissance units locate them by tracking drone debris left on the ground after the UAVs crash. [1] The Molniya-2 UAV is among the cheapest kamikaze drones in the Russian military's arsenal, manufactured by Atlant Aero, carrying a 10-kg warhead, with a range of 50 km and costing around US$1,600. [1]
Ukrainian strikes have turned occupied Crimea into a vulnerable Russian supply trap. — Source: gdelt
Intensified Ukrainian Attacks on Crimea
Ukrainian strikes in June targeted over 30 air defence systems and radar stations in Crimea, along with bridges, roads, energy facilities and fuel depots, creating constant repair cycles and forcing some Russian units into defensive postures. [2] In June, 31 systems of air defence and radar stations were struck. [2] Ukrainian forces have been striking bridges, roads and other transport infrastructure objects, as well as air defence systems, radar stations, energy objects and fuel bases. [2] These actions have created interruptions in electricity supply and additional difficulties for the Russian grouping on the peninsula in providing resources. [2] Part of the Russian units on the southern direction have been forced to focus on defence instead of conducting active offensive operations. [2] The geographic position of occupied Crimea makes it a valuable military object but also a vulnerable target. [2] Ukrainian strikes have turned Crimea into a giant logistical mousetrap, exposing systemic vulnerability of the peninsula as the weakened energy system has laid bare these weaknesses. [2] Russian forces now depend more on a limited number of land routes and bridge crossings that regularly become targets of new strikes, leading to a constant cycle where the Russian side restores damaged infrastructure while Ukrainian forces continue repeated strikes. [2]
Daily Frontline Clashes and Russian Losses
A total of 295 combat clashes occurred over the past day, with the highest number on the Huliaipole front, while Russia lost 1,290 soldiers in that period, bringing total personnel losses to 1,409,630. [4] On the North Slobozhanshchyna front and in the operational zone in Russia's Kursk Oblast, three combat clashes occurred. [4] On the South Slobozhanshchyna front, the Russians launched 15 attacks on Ukrainian positions near Starytsia, Synelnykove, Artilne, Kudiivka and Vilcha and towards Khatnie, Izbytske, Zarubynka and Sheviakivka. [4] On the Kupiansk front, Russian troops launched two attacks towards Novoosynove and near Kolisnykivka. [4] On the Lyman front, Russian forces made nine attempts to break through Ukraine's defences. [4] On the Sloviansk front, the Russians launched 25 assaults. [4] On the Kramatorsk front, two combat clashes took place. [4] On the Kostiantynivka front, Russian troops carried out 17 attacks. [4] On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 31 Russian assaults. [4] On the Oleksandrivka front, the Russians launched seven attacks. [4] On the Huliaipole front, Russian forces carried out 38 attacks. [4] On the Orikhiv front, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attempts to advance. [4]
Ukrainian forces struck over 200,000 Russian military assets in June. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Dispute Over Control of Kostyantynivka
Ukraine denies Russian claims of seizing Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, with officials stating the city remains under Ukrainian control despite ongoing difficult fighting and Russian infiltration attempts. [5] Ukrainian army spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said the situation is difficult, but Kostyantynivka remains under Ukrainian Defence Forces control. [5] President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Moscow’s announcement as a lie. [5] Kovalyov stated that Ukrainian defenders continue to hold their positions along the designated defensive lines, though he admitted small groups of Russian troops have been infiltrating the town and that fighting was ongoing. [5] Moscow’s defence ministry claimed Russian troops are in all parts of the town from the southern to northern outskirts. [5] Zelensky said if Kostyantynivka were under Russian control, perhaps Putin would have no problem meeting him there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war. [5] Kostyantynivka is one of the final obstacles on the route to the major Ukrainian-held cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. [5]
Ukrainian Strikes Deep Into Russian Territory
Ukrainian drone attacks targeted an oil terminal in Saint Petersburg as well as a port near Finland and the historical Peterhof complex without causing damage. [5] Russia’s defence ministry said it downed almost 500 Ukrainian drones and 10 of Kyiv’s Flamingo missiles overnight. [5] Zelensky claimed Kyiv struck the Kronstadt naval base in Saint Petersburg. [5] Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko said the port of Vysotsk, near the border with Finland, had been hit. [5] Saint Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said drones hit the area of an oil terminal in the Kirovsk district of Saint Petersburg, with air defence forces shooting down 72 drones, one of which crashed in Peterhof, and there were no casualties or damage. [5] Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence had shot down 62 drones headed for the Russian capital. [5] One person was killed in the border Bryansk region and another in Russian-annexed Crimea. [5] Authorities in the border Belgorod region said infrastructure facilities had been damaged by the attacks, leading to disruptions to electricity and water supply. [5]
What to watch next: Ukrainian commanders expect Russian troops to adapt to the strikes but have stated they will in turn change their tactics, with adaptation possibly taking days, weeks or months while new ways of striking in any direction and at any depth are found using available resources. [2]
