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June 20 (UPI) — Russia launched a series of missile strikes on cities across Ukraine on Tuesday, marking the largest attack in over two weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces claim to have achieved modest, yet important, gains in battle.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced in a Telegram post that they successfully destroyed 32 out of 35 drones that were launched by Russia.
“On the night of June 20, 2023, the enemy attacked military and infrastructure facilities in Ukraine with Iranian barrage ammunition Shahed-136/131. The launches originated from the northern and southern directions, specifically the Bryansk region and the coast of the Sea of Azov,” the Ukrainian Air Force reported. “A total of 35 attack drones were used by the aggressors, but 32 of them were successfully destroyed by our anti-aircraft defense systems. The Air Force destroyed 30 ‘Shaheds,’ and the Ground Forces destroyed an additional two,” they stated.
The western city of Lviv was struck three times, according to Maksym Kozytski, the head of the regional authority. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condemnation of the Russian strikes, stating, “There is absolutely nothing in this brutal war that is taking place on our land that would make Ukraine a source of war or the territory of those who wish to take something away from another people. We are defending the lives of our people, our freedoms, and our values. Peace for Ukrainian children,” in a statement posted on Telegram.
In his address, Zelensky provided an update on the military situation, highlighting that Ukrainian forces are making progress in certain parts of the frontline, while simultaneously defending against Russian assaults in other areas.
The city of Melitopol is a crucial point that connects Russian-occupied Mariupol to the rest of the occupied territory. If Ukrainian forces manage to capture Melitopol, a large number of Russian troops would be cut off from their supply lines.
Hanna Maliar, the Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, announced that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Piatykhatky and advanced approximately 4.3 miles in Zaporizhia Oblast, towards Berdyansk and Melitopol.
Ivan Fedorov, the democratically elected mayor of Melitopol who is currently exiled due to Russian occupation, stated that residents of Zaporizhia had witnessed Russian troops abandoning their positions.
The British Ministry of Defense stated that it is likely Russian forces are relocating in response to ongoing Ukrainian offensives.
“Over the last 10 days, Russia has probably started moving elements of its Dnipro Group of Forces (DGF) from the eastern bank of the Dnipro River to reinforce the sectors of Zaporizhia and Bakhmut,” the Ministry of Defense announced in a Twitter update.
“This redeployment by the DGF is likely due to Russia’s perception that a major Ukrainian attack across the Dnipro River is now less likely following the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam and resulting flooding,” the Defense Ministry added.
