"It is obvious how much is at stake for #Ukraine, politically and emotionally. But in Kyiv, the anxiety runs deeper than that. 'I know that when the counteroffensive starts, a lot of people I know will die,' a politician told the Guardian on Sunday."

Russian bloggers fill in counteroffensive blanks as #Kyiv’s troops probe frontline | #UkraineWar | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/05/ukraine-counter-attack-looks-imminent-as-troops-search-for-russian-weaknesses

This is it. And the Russians blowing up the #KakhovkaDam won't affect the counteroffensive at all.

"The combat against Russian positions south of Zaporizhzhia included western-supplied tanks and armoured vehicles and infantry backed by artillery. There were reports of intense fighting outside the town of #Tokmak, a key Russian logistical hub." #UkraineWar

Intense fighting reported as Ukrainian forces go on attack south of #Zaporizhzhia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/08/tense-fighting-reported-as-ukrainian-forces-go-on-attack-south-of-zaporizhzhia

"President Volodymyr Zelensky, his armed forces and their supporters in the West will be hoping for something similar. They need a decisive campaign that not only recaptures swathes of Ukrainian territory but also destroys a significant part of the Russian armed forces in #Ukraine so they cannot conduct offensive operations again in 2023." #UkraineWar

#MickRyan assesses #Ukraine’s counter-offensive
https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/06/08/mick-ryan-assesses-ukraines-counter-offensive

"Known as 'the gate to Crimea' , the #ChonharBridge is one of a handful of bridges linking #Crimea – which was annexed by #Russia in 2014 – with the mainland.

#Ukraine is determined to retake the Crimean peninsula and one of the key objectives of its recently launched counteroffensive is to isolate Russian troops there."#UkraineWar

Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukraine strikes bridge linking Kherson and Crimea, Russia-appointed officials say
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jun/22/russia-ukraine-war-live-slow-pace-of-counteroffensive-setting-conditions-for-future-main-effort-usthinktank-says?page=with:block-649401328f08c081c5bb5d01#block-649401328f08c081c5bb5d01

"Repairing the #Chonhar road bridge after a missile strike #Russia has blamed on #Ukraine could take up to several weeks, a Russian-installed transport ministry official in #Crimea was cited as saying on Thursday." #ChonharBridge #UkraineWar

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jun/22/russia-ukraine-war-live-slow-pace-of-counteroffensive-setting-conditions-for-future-main-effort-usthinktank-says?page=with:block-649421518f08657ec732080f#block-649421518f08657ec732080f

Wagner chief Yevgeny #Prigozhin on Wednesday contradicted Russian President Vladimir #Putin’s insistence that that there was a “lull” in #Ukraine’s counteroffensive, saying in an audio message that “huge chunks” of Ukrainian territory have been regained by its army. #UkraineWar

Russia’s #Wagner mercenary chief says #Moscow ‘misleading Russians’ over #UkraineOffensive
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230621-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-western-allies-seeking-private-funds-to-rebuild-ukraine-at-london-conference

Slow that is until something critical in the Russian defensive lines breaks. Then things will happen quickly. #UkraineWar
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“In the military, according to their reports and positions, everything is moving according to plan. It is not necessary to expect the offensive to be something very fast,” Maliar said.

#Ukraine says it advances in south, stops Russian attack in east
https://www.rappler.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-crisis-updates-june-23-2023/

"#Syrskyi was also credited with the execution of a plan to push #Russia’s artillery far enough away from the north-eastern city of #Kharkiv to spare civilians who had been living under constant fire, before he was said to have masterminded the counteroffensive that broke through Russian lines and liberated the wider region." #UkraineWar #UkraineOffensive

‘Everything is still ahead’: inside a secret military base with top Ukraine general
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/23/ukraine-commander-says-main-offensive-reserve-yet-to-be-sent-into-battle

"#FSB opens criminal case after Yevgeny #Prigozhin accuses #Russia’s military of rocket attack and says ‘evil’ leadership must be stopped... The FSB said that Prigozhin’s statements and actions constituted 'calls for the start of an armed civil conflict on the territory of the Russian Federation' ." #UkraineWar

Russia investigates #Wagner chief for ‘armed mutiny’ after call for attack on military https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/23/wagner-chief-accuses-russias-military-of-attack-and-says-evil-leadership-must-be-stopped

"Yevgeny #Prigozhin says his fighters will march on capital unless military leaders come to him in extraordinary escalation of tensions" #UkraineWar #Russia

#Wagner chief claims to have seized military sites in #Rostov as #Moscow implements anti-terror measures
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/24/wagner-chief-claims-to-have-seized-military-sites-in-rostov-as-moscow-implements-anti-terror-measures

"The city – just 60 miles (100km) from #Ukraine’s border – is home to the Russian southern military district command, whose 58th Combined Arms Army is fighting against Kyiv’s counteroffensive in southern Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) thinktank." #UkraineWar #Russia

Rostov-on-Don: why has Russian city been targeted by #Wagner group?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/24/wagner-chief-claims-to-have-seized-military-sites-in-rostov-as-moscow-implements-anti-terror-measures

"The Guardian has spoken with numerous people who have known #Prigozhin over the years, many of whom requested anonymity to speak freely, to piece together his story. From these conversations, a picture emerges of a ruthless schemer who was obsequious to social superiors and often tyrannical to underlings as he rose to the top." #Russia #UkraineWar

#YevgenyPrigozhin: the hotdog seller who rose to the top of #Putin’s war machine
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/24/yevgeny-prigozhin-the-hotdog-seller-who-rose-to-the-top-of-putin-war-machine-wagner-group

"#Ukraine will be watching for an opportunity to turn #Russia’s internal chaos into advantage on the frontline. Even if #Prigozhin’s mutiny is brought swiftly under control, it is bound to sow confusion and uncertainty among Russian soldiers and commanders more widely" #UkraineWar #Russia

Prigozhin and #Wagner cannot challenge #Putin’s power directly, but they expose his weakening grip | Keir Giles
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/24/prigozhin-and-wagner-cannot-challenge-putins-power-directly-but-they-expose-his-weakening-grip-keir-giles

"Flights from #Moscow have reportedly sold out as the #Wagner mercenary group approaches.

Der Spiegel has reported that tickets for direct connections from Moscow to #Tbilisi, #Astana and #Istanbul are no longer available." #UkraineWar #Russia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jun/23/russia-ukraine-war-live-russia-investigates-mutiny-as-wagner-chief-says-evil-military-leaders-must-be-stopped?page=with:block-6496e5cc8f08657ec73221ff#block-6496e5cc8f08657ec73221ff

Big mistake.
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"Speculation over #Putin's whereabouts amid reports his plane left #Moscow

There have been numerous reports that Vladimir Putin’s presidential plane took off from Moscow’s Vnukovo airport at 2.16pm local time (1216 BST) and then headed north-west." #Russia #Wagner #UkraineWar

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jun/23/russia-ukraine-war-live-russia-investigates-mutiny-as-wagner-chief-says-evil-military-leaders-must-be-stopped?page=with:block-6496ee518f08657ec732222c#block-6496ee518f08657ec732222c