Ukraine War Update: Full Frontline Update
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"Adult big commanders probably read other books and they don't say that in reality the Ukrainian artillery beats the Russian one which no one could even imagine to be the case a year ago"
Hello Team!
Jonathan provides an update on the Ukraine war frontline for 3 June 2023. He apologises for the lateness of the video due to attending a gig the previous night and the "perfect distillation of grapes" (wine) afterwards.
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📍 FRONT-LINE UPDATE -🗺️ MAP LEGEND
Belgorod Region
- There are claims of fighting between 100+ pro-Ukrainian Russian insurgents and Russian forces in a new axis in the Belgorod region near Orozhovo-Vorogovka, north of Kupyansk. This has not been fully confirmed.
- Attacking here could threaten the railway line that runs from Starobilsk through Troitsky to Orozhovo, having a similar impact to directly attacking Starobilsk.
- The railway is a key supply route for Russian forces. Hitting bridges along the line could render it inoperable.
Kupyansk to Kreminna
- Fighting continues around Mazhi Tifka, Novoselivka, Kuzmivka and other settlements.
- Russian forces have intensified operations along the entire Kharkiv-Luhansk frontline, particularly near Kupyansk.
- Russian military bloggers claim fierce fighting near Mazhi Tifka and Dvorichne, with Russian forces allegedly crossing the Oskil River near Dvorichne. If true, this could pose issues for Ukrainian defences.
- Russia has deployed thermobaric TOS-1A artillery systems around Kupyansk, suggesting the area is a priority.
Bakhmut
- Notably, there were no reported combat engagements in the Bakhmut direction on 2 June according to the ISW.
- A Ukrainian spokesperson stated Russian forces relieving Wagner in Bakhmut do not want to engage in the same attritional fighting.
- The UK MoD reported Russian forces only advanced 29km during the entire Bakhmut battle - equating to just 48cm of ground gained for each Russian casualty. This highlights the limited progress made.
- Geolocated footage shows Ukrainian aviation striking Russian positions in Bakhmut. The munitions used are unclear but could involve guided bombs.
- Elements of Russia's 76th and 106th VDV (airborne) divisions are now deployed to Bakhmut. However, the VDV is assessed to be much degraded from its pre-war elite status.
Avdiivka-Donetsk City Area
- Minimal changes around Avdiivka. Some Ukrainian attacks were repelled south of the city near Opytne.
- In Marinka, geolocated footage confirms incremental Russian advances in the northwest of the city as of 1 June. The Ukrainian General Staff reported repelling 8 Russian attacks here on 2 June.
Southern Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Frontline
- Ukrainian forces made some territorial gains from limited counterattacks near Velyka Novosilka, including advancing near Volodymyrivka.
- Russian forces struck Ukrainian positions near Pavlivka and Vuhledar but did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks.
- Russia increased shelling along the southern frontline, firing 365 shells (up from 63 previously) and launching 5 guided aerial bombs on 2 June.
- However, the number of aerial bombs seems to have decreased, possibly due to caution over the rumoured deployment of a Ukrainian Patriot air defence battery to Odesa.
Zaporizhzhia Frontline
Russian war reporter Sladkov, usually quite positive, was very critical of the situation in Zaporizhzhia, stating:
- Russian positions are under heavy Ukrainian artillery fire but there is zero Russian counter-battery fire in response. He says this is unacceptable.
- Sladkov claims Ukrainian artillery is outperforming Russian artillery, something unimaginable a year ago.
Jonathan's analysis:
- The lack of Russian counter-battery fire and effective Ukrainian artillery could be setting conditions for a Ukrainian counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia.
- Ukraine has destroyed large numbers of Russian artillery pieces in recent weeks (32 on 2 June alone). They may be using drones to locate Russian artillery and then striking it with HIMARS and other precision munitions.
- Destroying artillery would significantly help a Ukrainian offensive by removing a key threat. The cost of using guided rockets is justified if it gives Ukrainian forces an advantage.
Wrap Up
Jonathan notes he has a lot of extra content to cover in future videos but doesn't want to oversaturate. He appreciates all his viewers and will provide another update later.
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