Zelensky asserts that Russian losses are entirely justifiable, according to his statements.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to face "entirely warranted" losses as the conflict between the two nations escalates. In his June 19 evening address, Zelensky discussed the recent devastating attack on Kyiv, where Russia targeted the capital with ballistic missiles and drones, causing 30 deaths and 172 injuries.
Zelensky labeled the attack as "deliberate terror," emphasizing that it lacked any military sense and provided Russia with no advantages. The president insisted that Russia's attack targeted civilian areas, including residential buildings, student dorms, and a kindergarten.
Consequently, Zelensky urged Western partners to impose economic sanctions on Russia and described his ongoing discussions with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) regarding deep strikes on Russian territory. He reiterated that Russia will continue to incur losses due to its aggression.
Recently, Russia has intensified its campaign of aerial terror against Ukrainian cities. In response, Kyiv has stepped up attacks on Russia's military capabilities. One of the most audacious of these attacks was Operation Spiderweb, a coordinated drone strike on four crucial Russian military airfields on June 1. This operation was responsible for damaging 41 Russian warplanes, including heavy bombers and A-50 spy planes.
Despite repeated attempts from Ukraine to declare a unilateral ceasefire, Russia has refused every time. The continued lack of commitment from Russia has led to increased civilian casualties. With Western support weakening and no ceasefire in sight, Ukraine is looking for alternative solutions, such as developing long-range weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory.
Among these new weapons are the Palianytsia and Peklo missile-drone hybrids. Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to hit targets far from the border, with a reported attack on a drone factory in Tatarstan, about 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
Russia continues to suffer heavy losses in the war, both in terms of soldiers and equipment. Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Andrey Kelin inadvertently admitted to these losses during a June 19 interview with CNN. According to Ukrainian figures, Russia has lost more than 1 million soldiers since the start of the full-scale invasion.
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- The United Kingdom recently imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Russia's military, energy, and finance sectors. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that these sanctions aimed to curtail funding for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. The sanctions targeted two UK residents accused of sending $120 million in advanced electronics to support Russia's war effort in Ukraine, as well as 20 ships from Russia's shadow fleet, companies managing these vessels, and the Russian GUGI military agency [2].
- Russian President Putin is pushing for the establishment of buffer zones in Ukraine, with plans to expand Russian territorial control beyond the illegally annexed oblasts. These buffer zones may extend into northern Sumy Oblast and possibly further into Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Claims of buffer zones are justified as defensive measures against Ukrainian attacks on Russian border cities like Belgorod [1].
- Russia has made advances into northern Sumy Oblast and eastern Kharkiv Oblast. However, Ukrainian sources suggest that these advances are limited and encounter significant resistance. The strategic value of these advances appears more political than military, as they allow Russia to claim territorial gains even if they are of limited scale [1][3].
- Ongoing discussions have resulted in the repatriation of around 1,200 Ukrainian soldier bodies from Russia. Ukrainian forensic teams are working to identify these remains, which were part of broader peace talks involving prisoner swaps and ceasefire discussions. Despite these talks, combats continue intensely on several fronts, underscoring the fragility of ceasefire prospects.
- Ukraine has claimed to have shot down Russian aircraft, such as the Su-30, using missiles launched from drone boats [4].
Politics and general news have been dominated by war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The call for economic sanctions against Russia, due to their continued aggression, is a pressing issue in the politics of the west. Crime-and-justice matters also arise, as Ukraine alleges that Russia has been suffering heavy losses in the war, including the purported death of over 1 million soldiers since the full-scale invasion.
