June, 23-26

The army of the Russian Federation (hereinafter: Russia) has continued its attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Following several months of intense fighting and shelling, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have now been forced to retreat from Severodonetsk leaving behind destruction similar to that seen in Mariupol and Volnovakha. The significant damage inflicted on the fortifications of the Ukrainian army, coupled with the grave lack of precision weapons and ammunitions, has forced Ukrainian forces to retreat from some villages as well.

Russian forces have been reported to have attempted to encircle and capture Lysychansk and advances on Slovyansk are expected. In order to strengthen its troops and prepare for future onslaughts, the Russian military has begun a new wave of forced mobilization targeting men living in the territories it occupies.

The Ukrainian army has launched a gradual counteroffensive heading towards Kherson, and the city is expected to be returned to Ukrainian control by fall. Furthermore, a military operation seeking to destroy and remove Russia’s military presence from the Snake Island in the Black Sea is ongoing. The island has been targeted by Ukrainian missile strikes for the past few days. 

The weekend saw increased shelling and targeting of Ukrainian cities and territories, presumably due to the EU’s decision to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate member. Regions specifically targeted by Russian forces during the reporting period include: Kyiv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Kryvyi Rih, Zelenodolsk, Zolochiv, Lysychansk, Avdiivka, Toretsk, Kostyantynivka. Furthermore, attacks targeting territories located close to the Russian border were reported.

The Rivne and Zhytomyr oblasts have been hit by devastating missile strikes with an intensity not seen in the region since March. The attacks were launched from the territory of Belarus, presumably to provoke counterattacks from Ukraine, thus providing Belarus legitimate grounds for engagement in the war.

Ukrainian military objectives have been targeted by missile strikes, with most notable attacks directed at the military base in Desna in the Chernihiv oblast and a test range in Yavoriv in the Lviv oblast.

Intense shelling has affected the safety and well-being of Ukrainian refugees and displaced people who have recently returned to their homes in cities such as Kharkiv and Kyiv. The resumption of intense air strikes might prompt Ukrainians to leave their homes for the second time, further aggravating the migration crisis seen both in Ukraine and across Europe. The strikes witnessed during the reporting period have also had a significant impact on humanitarian conditions across the country. For example, 745 settlements consisting of more than half a million inhabitants were cut off from the electricity grid following the strikes.

According to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, dialogues between the West and Russia should only be resumed if the European areas of Russia are demilitarized. Furthermore, Ukrainian politicians have continued to advocate for recognizing Russia as a state sponsoring terrorism placing it on global sanctions lists.

Missile strikes and hostilities have again risked the nuclear security and safety of Ukraine and Europe. The nuclear facility Dzherelo Neytroniv (Source of Neutrons) located in Kharkiv was subjected to missile strikes on Sunday 26^th, and the damage caused to the facility is feared to result in the release of highly dangerous radioactive substances.

A cruise missile launched by the Russian army on Sunday was reported to have flown critically low over the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in the Mykolayiv oblast. Had there been a mistake in targeting or an accident during the flight damaging the nuclear power plant, dangerous substances could have been released impacting civilians both in Mykolayiv as well as in neighbouring regions.

The militarization of territories surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has continued which may provoke damages in the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

Residents and authorities of the territories under Russian occupation continue being subject to terror campaigns and abuse. An example of the conditions civilians in occupied territories are facing is provided by the ongoing case Oleh Serdyuk, the Head of the Information and Computing Centre of the Berdyansk State Pedagogical University. Mr Serdyuk was abducted two weeks ago and his whereabouts remain unknown. Furthermore, the Head of the Stanislav Community of the Kherson oblast, Ivan Samoylenko, was reportedly abducted by the Russian forces on Friday the 24^th. 

Russian troops have continued stealing grains and resources from residents living in the occupied territories. A cargo vessel carrying Ukrainian grain is reportedly waiting to be dispatched from the Berdyansk port, presumably heading to Crimea where the seized goods will be transported further into Russian territories.

Residents of occupied territories have been affected by the introduction of the Russian ruble and the devaluing of the Ukrainian hryvnia in available exchange rates. Furthermore, the expropriation of Ukrainian real estate by Russian authorities has continued.

According to Russian sources, more than 2 million Ukrainians, including 300 000 children, have been relocated to Russian territories since the beginning of the invasion. Many have been forcibly relocated and international organisations have been provided minimal oversight regarding the conditions and whereabouts of the deported individuals. 

More than 19 700 cases of potential war crimes committed by the Russian army have been reported to the Ukrainian authorities. Out of these, 400 represent crimes targeting sites and objects of Ukrainian cultural heritage. Based on the statistics provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the Russian military has committed 100-200 war crimes each day since the beginning of hostilities.

More than 339 Ukrainian children have been killed and 613 injured since the beginning of the war.

To celebrate the day of the Crimean Tatar Flag, a group of Crimean Tatar intellectuals and cultural influencers have launched the “Initiative of June 26/İyün 26 teşebbüsі”. The initiative seeks to develop a vision for the role of Crimean Tatars in Crimea and in Ukraine.

The Ministry for Reintegration of Temporary Occupied Territories of Ukraine has launched a new hotline in order to share information on humanitarian issues, the acquisition of an IDP status, and the relevant processes regarding return to Ukraine for people who fled abroad from the temporarily occupied territories or were forcibly relocated to Russia. 

Ukraine was hit by massive missile strikes on Friday 24^th launched from the territory of Belarus. The following day, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, was reported to have met with the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. The statements following the meeting underscored that the two nations are committed to addressing disruptions in global food markets and the supply of fertilizers. Furthermore, President Lukashenko underscored his concerns regarding the confrontational policies of Lithuania and Poland related to the situation in Ukraine. President Lukashenko underscored that the isolation of Kaliningrad by Lithuania is synonymous with a declaring of war justifying retaliatory military measures targeting the West. In addition, President Lukashenko requested President Putin to help equip Belarusian aircrafts so that they would be able to carry nuclear warheads. In response, Russia confirmed that it will supply Belarus will Minsk Iskander M system missiles and Belarusian SU-25 planes will be upgraded in Russia, coupled with the training of flight crews.

The Russian Ministry of Defence released a statement on Saturday 25^th claiming that the units of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic had expelled Ukrainian troops from Severodonetsk and liberated the settlement of Borivske, Voronove, and Syrotyne with the support of the Russian military. Following the news, the Russian Minister of Defence, Sergei Shoigu, was reported to have visited Russian military units in the Donetsk oblast on Sunday 26^th. 

Warnings regarding increased risks of terror attacks have been announced in regions under Russian control. Such announcement were most notably made in Crimea, where the heightened level of threat posed by terror attacks was extended until July 10^th. The announcements are presumably linked to Russia’s claims accusing Ukraine for shelling Russian settlements in border regions. 

Russian officials have shared information regarding Ukrainian citizens who relocated to Russian territories. According to the Governor of the Russian Rostov oblast, Vasili Golubev, 1.6 million citizens of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, and Ukraine have crossed the Russian border in Rostov oblast since mid-February. According to Governor Golubev, more than 33 000 refugees have been relocated across 40 regions in Russia. 

Russian sources presented the massive missile operation carried out over the weekend as an example of a military campaign utilising high-precision missiles and targeting only military objects. No information regarding civilian casualties was reported.

Russia has continued to conduct covert military mobilizations across its territories and the territories it occupies. New legislative bills are expected to be adopted to accelerate the pace of mobilization campaigns, and the Defence Committee of the State Duma suggested an amendment to the law on Military Duty and Service on Sunday. The proposed law seeks to allow citizens who have completed their secondary education to enrol for military service in the Armed Forces of Russia and Russian Guards. The bill will significantly lower the threshold for the youth to join the military.

The Kremlin has continued disseminating information discrediting the Ukrainian army and the political leadership of the country. According to Russian sources, Ukrainian troops have been abandoned on the front lines without weapons to defend themselves. Russian sources have also reported on increased political tensions seen in the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Russian officials have continued to accuse Ukrainians and the Ukrainian government of spreading and promoting anti-Russian sentiments. According to the speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, a new wave of anti-Russian sentiment has swept over Ukraine resulting in the country rejecting Russian literature and the Russian language. Mr Volodin called for justice and holding Ukrainian officials accountable for the human rights violations they have committed in Ukraine.