Timeline: day 98 of Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression

Alice Smahina

Today is the first day of summer, June 1, and russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for 98 days. We're reporting on the current news. The article will be updated.

What about today?

Key points

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said, today, Ukrainian defenders are writing the victorious history of our state "so as not to leave the war to our children and for them to be proud of us. russia is a systemic enemy seeking to destroy Ukraine for centuries. Amid aggression and constant threat, we as a nation must be stable and strong." We believe in the Ukrainian army! They are doing everything possible to bring peace back to our country!

The Ukrainian army had some successes in the Kherson and Kharkiv areas. In the Zaporizhzhia region, the military is holding back the pressure of the occupiers; the critical direction is Huliaipole and Orikhovo.

Now russia has thrown its forces into the Donbas, becoming vulnerable in the Kherson region, the Institute for the Study of War says. Successful Ukrainian counterattacks in the Kherson region show that the command is aware of these realities and uses vulnerabilities created by putin's decisions.

To date, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have eliminated 30,700 occupiers! They also destroyed 659 artillery units, 94 air defense systems, and 1,361 tanks.

Ukraine also has losses. Ukraine loses 60-100 soldiers and about 500 wounded in battle every day, Zelensky said in an interview. According to the President, we maintain our defensive perimeters.

 "I want to appeal to those Ukrainians who want to adjust the Ukrainian Armed Forces and point where it's better to attack. Ukraine values ​​every thought, but Ukraine values ​​every life above all. It is an axiom. And we will never do like russia; it wanted to seize something in a few days or before a certain date. Our military, intelligence, the National Guard, and all those involved in the defense are breaking all the occupiers' plans. The front situation should be assessed comprehensively, not in one area where it's most severe and attracts the most attention but on the whole front," Volodymyr Zelensky said in a new address.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov urged Ukrainians not to succumb to information manipulation by russians.

Today, together with the little ones, the entire world celebrates International Children's Day. But 243 Ukrainian children who died as a result of russia's invasion of Ukraine will never celebrate it again. As of June 1, 446 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of russia's full-scale armed aggression.

Ukraine's talks with russia

russia has talked about signing a peace agreement. Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko said in the fourth month of the war against Ukraine that Moscow was ready to negotiate and sign a peace agreement with Kyiv. However, for some reason, this lady is talking about the "civil war in Ukraine." "We need diplomatic, peaceful solutions, but it requires two countries' desire. We are ready for negotiations, signing an agreement that would end the civil war in Ukraine and lead to peace," she said. What civil war? There is a new propaganda narrative and lies about russia's war in Ukraine. 

Who's coming to Ukraine?

On financial and information aid, weapons and politicians

Ukrainian defenders in the Zaporizhzhia region successfully use drones received by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the United States. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported. The Puma aircraft can do what only the Bayraktar TB2 can, of all the Ukrainian army's drones, illuminating targets with a laser beam to aim high-precision weapons.

Missile systems will come to Ukraine; the United States is preparing a new military aid package for $700 million, Joe Biden said in a column for the New York Times. He said Kyiv would receive missile systems with a range of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers). These weapons will allow Ukrainians to "fight on the battlefield and take the strongest position at the negotiating table."

In addition, the United States will announce new defense assistance to Ukraine in the coming days, the State Department said.

Taiwan will send $6 million to rebuild five Ukrainian cities affected by russian aggression. Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia will receive reconstruction money, which the authorities will use to rebuild civilian infrastructure and schools. Earlier it was reported that Taiwan intends to provide $3 million in aid for the needs of Kyiv and an additional $5 million for the needs of 6 medical institutions in Ukraine.

During the three months of the war, Ukraine received more than $7 billion in financial assistance from the Allies. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this at a government meeting.

There are also unpleasant moments: Switzerland, which emphasizes its neutrality, has blocked Denmark's supply of armored vehicles of Swiss production to Ukraine.

Olaf Scholz stated that Germany would supply Ukraine with modern IRIS-T air defense systems. Chancellor announced this during a speech in the Bundestag. According to him, with the help of these systems, Ukraine will be able to "protect the whole big city from attacks by russian aircraft." In addition to air defense systems, Germany will provide Ukraine with surveillance radar capable of detecting enemy howitzers, mortars, and jet artillery.

At the same time, the German Ministry of Defense stated that they had no reserve of missiles for the IRIS-T air defense system and radars promised to Kyiv by Chancellor Scholz. Therefore, the German Defense Ministry says supplies can come directly from enterprises.

News from partners

A man will be tried in Estonia for attempting to export drones for the russian army. The prosecutor's office noted that participating in or supporting foreign aggression was punishable by up to 5 years in prison. "Attempts to donate commercial drones to the russian army are ending in jail. Estonian law provides for the punishment of supporting russian aggression against Ukraine," police said.

Joe Biden wrote an article in The New York Times about the role of the United States in the war in Ukraine. Read here to find out its key points.

The residence of Santa Claus in Finland will be converted into bomb shelters in the event of war, Reuters reports. The cover carved into the hill, about 50 m high, can withstand bombing, chemical, or nuclear attack and accommodate up to 3,600 people. The issue of preparing bomb shelters in Finland became relevant after the start of russia's war in Ukraine and the decision of the Finnish government to join NATO.

What's in russia?

Exercises with Yars nuclear missile systems have begun in russia. russia said that about a thousand troops and more than 100 units of equipment were involved in the exercises taking place in the Ivanovo region. They are trying to scare everyone again. But, Michael McFaul, a diplomat, professor at Stanford University, and former US ambassador to russia, says a strategic nuclear attack by russia is unlikely. From the beginning of the war, putin hinted that he could use nuclear weapons. It was a signal to the Americans not to "interfere." Then medvedev and peskov said that russia would use strategic nuclear weapons in the event of a threat to russia, but there's no threat.

Chairman of the International Committee of the State Duma Leonid Slutsky expects the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions to join russia in July. "A referendum on the entry of the DPR, LPR, and Kherson region could take place simultaneously; it would be logical," he said. According to him, russia "will have enough resources to ensure the inclusion of these territories in its membership." Only Ukrainians don't want to live in the "russian world," receive meager rations and praise the dictator.

Sanctions on the aggressor!

Immediately after adopting the sixth sanctions package against russia, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of the seventh, CNN reports. Macron said any bans were possible in the next round of sanctions against russia. "I do not think we should rule anything out in the coming weeks. It all depends on the situation on the ground," he said after a special summit of the European Union in Brussels.

The EU and Britain have agreed to ban the insurance of ships with russian oil. The ban will deprive russian oil carriers of access to the British insurance market Lloyd's of London, the largest insurance company for shipping. Thus, according to The Financial Times, russia will reduce the ability to export crude oil by sea, and it will have to turn to less reliable insurers.

Canva graphic design service leaves russia. "As we said in early March, we strongly oppose the ongoing aggressive actions of the russian government and intend to uphold peace and security everywhere, which is why we are blocking access to Canva in Axis in the near future," the company said in a statement.

The United States may tighten sanctions due to Moscow's attempts to annex the Kherson region, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

Kyiv and the region

The defense of Kyiv is getting stronger every day, and now it is not only the supply of Western weapons but also the construction of several defensive lines from the north of our region, the first of which is at a great distance from Kyiv. The constant sounds of aviation and explosions (not de-mining) heard in the city are also the training of our defenders.

Zhytomyr region

The Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Center has started installing new windows instead of the ones destroyed by the blast wave after another airstrike by russian troops on Zhytomyr. In total, contractors will replace 130 windows. The Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration head, Vitalii Bunechko, announced this on his Facebook page.

The ambassadors of Estonia and Latvia and the representative of the Spanish embassy in Ukraine paid a diplomatic visit to the Zhytomyr region; they reported that Latvia and Spain also plan to join the post-war reconstruction of the area.

Donetsk and Luhansk regions

The occupiers are storming and consolidating in the center of Sievierodonetsk while continuing to destroy infrastructure and industrial facilities. They attacked the Proletarii plant and the Azot association. The head of the Luhansk military administration, Serhii Haidai, announced.

Over the past 24 hours, the occupiers fired on more than 20 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, destroying and damaging 45 civilian objects. In Hirske, the russians destroyed at least six houses and a local art school; in Vrubivka, it's six houses; in Novoivanivka, five; in Sievierodonetsk, four; in Lysychansk, three; in Mykolaivka, two.

The enemy is trying to oust units of our troops from their positions in the Bilohorivka and Vrubivka districts. Assault and army aircraft were used in the Komyshuvakha and Nyrkovo districts.

russia is killing! On May 31, the russians killed four civilians in the Donetsk region: 3 in Sloviansk and 1 in Raihorod. Another seven civilians were injured.

As of this morning, the occupiers control 70% of Sievierodonetsk. Some Ukrainian troops moved to more advantageous, pre-prepared positions. Another part continues fighting inside the city. Lysychansk is entirely under Ukrainian control, the head of the Luhansk region, Serhii Haidai, informs.

More than a hundred thousand people remain in Mariupol. Since April, they haven't had access to drinking water and food; the russian occupiers allow them to drink only for work. "They simply do not give out the drinking water, but they want the people of Mariupol to dismantle the debris, collect [bodies] and help them bury the dead, hide these war crimes…" said the mayor of Mariupol.

Kharkiv region

Yesterday, the russians fired continuously from howitzers at the town of Zolochiv in the Kharkiv region for ten hours. A 74-year-old woman was killed, and a 73-year-old woman was seriously injured in the shelling. The head of the Zolochiv community Viktor Kovalenko reported it. "So Zolochiv has never been shelled like that yet, all day without a break," Kovalenko said.

The enemy also fired artillery and MLRS at the settlements of Oleksandrivka, Slatyne, and Tsyrkuny. They launched strikes by army aircraft helicopters in the areas of Vesele and Ternove.

During the day, the russian occupiers massively shelled the settlements of Kharkiv, Izium, Bohodukhiv, and Chuhuiv districts. The shelling killed two people and wounded five civilians.

The russian army strikes at the Barvinkove community in the Kharkiv region almost every day, Mayor Oleksandr Balo says. From the night of May 31 to June 1, the shelling lasted about an hour and a half. There are no casualties, but the destruction is recorded.

Dnipropetrovsk region

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the enemy shelled the Zelenodolsk community bordering the Kherson region. People were not injured.

Ruscists fired again at the Kryvyi Rih district of the Dnipropetrovsk region, the head of the administration, Valentyn Reznichenko, said. "The enemy again hit the Zelenodolsk community with artillery. People were not injured. Electricians work in the Shyroke community. The line damaged by yesterday's mortar attack in one of the community's villages is being repaired," Reznichenko said.

Zaporizhzhia region

There are about 500 occupiers and explosives at the nuclear power plant in Enerhodar. The Energoatom energy company's head  Petro Kotin announced it. "We continue to monitor the operation of the station. All staff follows our commands, and power units supply electricity to Ukraine's power systems. All personnel work under great pressure from the invaders. There are facts of abuse of staff, there are facts of kidnappings," Kotin said. According to him, the occupiers use the Zaporizhzhia NPP as a military base, as it "has a good surveillance system, fencing, special facilities for sheltering personnel, and large recreation facilities."

Kherson region

The day before, Ukrainian mobile service operators, Internet services, and telephony were suspended in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. It will not be possible to restore communication in the Kherson region soon. According to the State Special Communications Service, the relevant equipment is under the complete control of the occupation regime and the russian military. Currently, only russian mobile operators work in the area.

The United States is concerned about the steps taken by russia in an attempt to institutionalize control in Ukraine, especially in the Kherson region, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing. "The Kremlin is probably weighing a few approaches: from recognizing a so-called 'people's republic' as Russia forcibly did in Donetsk and Luhansk, to an attempted annexation just as Russia did in Crimea," Price said. According to him, russia will probably not be able to achieve the legitimacy of puppet governments in the occupied territories of Ukraine, "because protests continue and residents refuse to cooperate."

The occupiers blew up bridges over the Inhulets River in the Kherson region. Thus, they are trying to counter the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the south, the South operational command reports. It happened near the villages of Davydiv Brid and Velyka Oleksandrivka. But it will not help them. The Ukrainian army is close!

Pensioner Viktor Chaika from the village of Prymorske in the Kherson region was forced to flee a russian-occupied village. He walked 250 km until he reached the position of the Ukrainian military.

Odesa region

The City Council explained why the city services removed the protective structures from the center of Odesa. "Dismantling fortifications does not mean abolishing them, but changing the format of Odesa's defense and restoring vital functions. The President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian government have clarified that we need to rebuild the economy. Therefore, small and medium-sized businesses must work," Hennadii Trukhanov said.

The South operational command reports that the occupiers have created a bridgehead on the Zmiinyi Island for a possible landing. The invaders deployed modernized anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare stations, and other weapons on Zmiinyi Island that could cover possible landings of enemy sabotage reconnaissance groups or massive shelling of the Odesa region.

West of Ukraine

A tour was held in Lviv, which will never take place. The initiative in memory of the children killed by the occupiers took place in the center of the city on Rynok Square. The authorities put eight school buses there and placed children's toys on their seats. "Today, school buses in Rynok Square are empty. Two hundred forty-three children will never come to Lviv again. russian occupiers kill children, women, and civilians. They must be responsible for every life taken. Today, the world must unite to stop these terrible crimes," said Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi.

↓Read:

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