Ukraine continues counteroffensive operations on at least three areas, while Russia blames weather for its failures — ISW

This information comes from a new report by the Institute for the Study of War.

According to the report, Ukrainian troops have been carrying out counteroffensive operations in at least three areas of the front, resulting in territorial gains on June 12.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Maliar, stated that our fighters have made progress of 6.5 km and recaptured 90 square kilometers of territory in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia directions in the past week. She also mentioned that during the same period, the Armed Forces have liberated one settlement in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region and six settlements in the eastern part of Zaporizhzhia and western part of Donetsk regions.

Colonel Serhiy Cherevatyi, the spokesperson for the eastern group of troops of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that the soldiers have continued counterattacks on the flanks of Bakhmut. They have advanced approximately 250-700 meters in unspecified areas near the city.

Russian attempts to counterattack

Russian reports stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to attack Russian positions in various directions near Bakhmut, particularly near Berkhivka, which is about 3 km northwest of Bakhmut.

Geolocation videos also show limited progress by Ukrainian troops in the western part of the Donetsk region, south of Velyka Novosilka.

On the other hand, the Russian military claimed that the occupiers were attempting to counterattack in the region and that fighting was ongoing in the western part of the Donetsk region and the eastern part of the Zaporizhzhia region on June 12.

Russian sources also mentioned military operations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Orikhove region in the west of the Zaporizhzhia region. However, they noted that the intensity of shelling in that area has somewhat decreased.

According to reports, Russian troops launched a counterattack in the western part of the Donetsk region on June 12, following a tactical success achieved by the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Vremivka on June 11. The occupiers launched a counterattack against the Defense Forces of Ukraine in this area.

However, experts emphasize that there is no confirmed information about territorial gains by Russian troops during these counterattacks. Some Russian sources claim that Russian troops allegedly recaptured Makarivka, which is about 5 km south of Velyka Novosilka. Nevertheless, the Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine still control Makarivka as of June 12.

Furthermore, a Russian source reported that the fighting near Vremivka is ongoing, and the outcome of the battle remains unclear.

Russian "flexible defense" tactics and accusations of military failures

According to former Russian officer Igor Girkin, if the Russian reports are true, they confirm the success of the Russian tactics of flexible defense in the area. He believes that the Russian military command is more concerned about wearing down Ukrainian forces than regaining territory.

Girkin claims that Russian forces typically retreat to rear areas to expose Ukrainian infantry without air defense and electronic warfare cover. Subsequently, Russian troops launch attacks in these areas with tank and anti-aircraft support to prevent Ukrainian forces from transferring air defense equipment to the liberated territories.

The Institute adds that Russian military personnel cited bad weather conditions as the reason for the Russian Air Force's inability to take off and hindered their defense against the attacks near the administrative border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The same sources mention that on June 11, Ukrainian forces gained tactical advantages due to heavy rain and fog, but on June 12, Russian aircraft resumed airstrikes after the rain stopped.

Additionally, Russian sources report that the Russian Federation's military aviation intensified airstrikes against the Ukrainian Armed Forces on June 12, following the passage of the rain.

Girkin emphasizes that weather conditions will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of operations in this sector in the coming days.

• On Sunday, June 11, the soldiers of the 68th separate brigade, along with other units of the Armed Forces, announced the liberation of the settlement of Blahodatne.

• On the morning of June 12, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar confirmed that the state flag is once again seen over Storozhove in the Donetsk region and Novodarivka in Zaporizhzhia region.