NEW: Ukrainian forces conducted #counteroffensive operations in at least three areas of the front and made territorial gains on June 10 & 11. Geolocated footage & Russian sources indicated that UKR forces liberated multiple settlements in western #Donetsk. isw.pub/UkrWar061123
2/ Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in the #Bakhmut area, and Russian sources reported continued Ukrainian ground attacks on Bakhmut’s northern and southern flanks.
3/ Geolocated footage and Russian sources indicated that Ukrainian forces liberated multiple settlements during continued ground attacks south, southwest, and southeast of Velyka Novosilka in western #Donetsk Oblast. isw.pub/UkrWar061123
4/ Russian sources reported that Ukrainian forces continued to attack southwest of Orikhiv in #Zaporizhia Oblast, and Ukrainian forces made gains in this area. isw.pub/UkrWar061123
UKR forces are currently attempting an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation – a frontal assault on prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority – & these initial assaults should not be extrapolated to predict all UKR operations. 🧵(1/4)
2/ Ukrainian forces are unsurprisingly taking casualties in initial attacks against some of the best-prepared Russian forces in #Ukraine. isw.pub/UkrWar061023
3/ However, initial attacks – and particularly selected footage that Russian sources are intentionally disseminating and highlighting – are not representative of all Ukrainian operations.
Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks and advanced northwest of #Bakhmut, particularly near Berkhikvka and Yahidne (NW of Bakhmut), and 10km NE of Bakhmut near Krasnopolivka. isw.pub/UkrWar061023
2/ Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty stated that Ukrainian troops advanced up to 1,400m in different unspecified areas of the #Bakhmut front.
3/ The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards Bohdanivka (5km northwest of #Bakhmut) and Bila Hora (14km southwest of Bakhmut).
Russian sources claimed that #Ukraine's armed forces have tactical advantages in conducting assaults at night due to Western-provided equipment with superior night optics systems. isw.pub/UkrWar061023
2/ A prominent Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces are launching assaults at night because Western-provided equipment provides Ukrainian forces with “excellent” night vision optics.
3/ #Zaporizhia Oblast occupation official Vladimir Rogov also claimed that night assaults allow Ukrainian forces to more effectively use Western-provided equipment.
Russian milbloggers continue to highlight reported superior Russian electronic warfare (EW) capabilities as key to disrupting Ukrainian attacks. isw.pub/UkrWar061023
2/ Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian EW units are disrupting Ukrainian communications as well as aviation units and alleged that some Ukrainian mechanized groups were not prepared to fight without communications or with suppressed GPS.
3/ Another milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces attempted their own “electronic counter measures” against Russian reconnaissance and control capabilities in areas where there are Ukrainian assaults but that these attempts were unsuccessful.
3/ Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty noted that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 1,400m in unspecified areas of the #Bakhmut front, and Russian milbloggers reported Ukrainian advances northwest and northeast of Bakhmut. isw.pub/UkrWar061023
Ukrainian forces continued limited ground attacks on the administrative border between #Donetsk and #Zaporizhia oblasts and made marginal gains in the area on June 9. isw.pub/UkrWar060923
2/ Geolocated footage published on June 9 indicates that Ukrainian forces made marginal gains east of Blahodatne (5km south of Velyka Novosilka).
3/ The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian aviation conducted airstrikes near Blahodatne, further indicating that Ukrainian forces are operating near the settlement.