On June 9, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine had begun its long-awaited counter-offensive in different parts of the country to reclaim the area occupied by the Russian Forces.
He added that Kyiv’s every attempted advance had failed and resulted in many casualties. Both Moscow and Kyiv reported heavy fighting and casualties in Ukraine even as the United States announced an additional 2.1 billion dollars in security assistance for Kyiv, including air defence and ammunition capabilities. The Russia-Ukraine War broke out on February 24, 2022.
The war began after three Russian cities close to the borders with neighboring Ukraine came under attack from drones A state of emergency was declared in the southern Russian city of Voronezh after a drone hit an apartment building, officials said. Drones also hit an offensive building in Belgorod and near an oil depot in Kursk, but no damage was reported.
The drone attack in Voronezh was declared a “terrorist act” with the Russian State Investigation Committee initiating a criminal case against “persons involved and acting in the interests of the military-political leadership of Ukraine.”
In the last month, Russia claimed to have shot down a diverted eight Ukrainian Drones in an attack on several districts of Moscow. According to a Ukrainian presidential aide, Reuters reported that Kyiv denied its involvement in the Moscow Drone attacks but was pleased to watch the events and warned of more strikes.
Concerning the Ukraine counter-offensive, Putin said that although it was certainly begun, it was unable to make any advances as Kremlin responded to every attack from Kyiv. “All of the counter-offensive attempts that have been made so far have failed. But the offensive potential of the troops of the Kyiv regime is still preserved,” he said.
The Ukrainian troops said that they made advances in Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces in May after nearly a year of combat fighting on the ground, the deadliest in Europe since World War II. As the fighting raged, some German and US tanks were seen for the first time.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk region were repelled, leading to over 1000 Ukrainian casualties and the destruction of armoured vehicles and tanks. However, the ministry did not give any evidence for its assertions.
The Ministry also said that Ukrainian troops attacked Russian Lines fro four times with two battalions supported by tanks just south of Velykna Novosilka in Donetsk but were pushed back, Reuters reported.
On June 9, 2023, the US Department of Defense announced an additional 2,1 billion security assistance for Ukraine, including critical air defence and ammunition capabilities.
The package includes additional munitions for Patriot air defence systems, HAWK air defence systems and missiles 105mm and 203mm artillery, Puma Unmanned Aerial System, laser-guided rocket system munitions and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.
“This Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative USAI package illustrates the continued commitment to both Ukraine’s critical near-term capabilities as well as the enduring capacities of the Ukraine Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term, “the Defence Department said in a statement.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict has become an important issue regarding Russian Geopolitics
