Центр оборонних стратегій

Russia’s war on Ukraine. 02.06.2024

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, battles continued near Druzhelyubivka. On the Siversk direction, ten enemy attacks were repelled. On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked with air support.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone, on the Toretsk direction, the situation remains tense on the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy is trying to break through the Ukrainian defense with air support. There were 23 combat engagements. On the Kurakhove direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 13 assaults by Russian invaders; fighting continues near Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Vodyane, where the enemy is actively using aviation. On the Vremivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4 Russian attacks.

In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, there were 3 combat engagements near Krynky since the beginning of the day. The enemy used aviation.

General conclusion: 

  • The enemy is focusing its main efforts on the Pokrovsk direction.
  • Russian forces are attempting to concentrate infantry near Hlyboke on the Kharkiv direction, redeploying units equipped with light armored vehicles, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) to the area.
  • The enemy’s offensive operation in the northern Kharkiv Oblast has stalled, as Russian forces failed to effectively isolate the battlefield, counter Ukrainian Defense Forces UAVs, and organize effective counter-battery operations.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, fighting in the Shcherbaky area has intensified and lost its previously static nature.
  • Ukrainian energy infrastructure remains a priority target for Russian missile and air strikes.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

  • There were 73 combat engagements on various fronts.
  • On the Kharkiv direction, battles continued near Lyptsi and between Hlyboke and Lukyantsi, with assaults ongoing near and within Vovchansk.
  • Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Vovchansk and Starytsya.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces made minor advances southwest of Novoselivske, east and southeast of Stelmakhivka, and continued their offensive in the areas of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Novoyehorivka, and Druzhelyubivka.
  • On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked near Makiivka, Terny, Torske, and Dibrova.
  • On the Siversk Direction, Russian troops continued their offensive in the areas of Rozdolivka, Ivano-Dariivka, and Vyimka.
  • On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces made minor advances south of Ivanivske, crossed the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal near Kalynivka, but Ukrainian Defense Forces prevented them from securing the area with effective fire strikes. Battles continued in the eastern quarters of Chasiv Yar, and near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdyumivka.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces made minor advances west of Solovyove, southeast of Pervomaiske, and in the areas of Novopokrovske, north of Netaylove, Semenivka, and Yasnobrodivka, continuing their attacks near Zelene Pole, Novooleksandrivka, Novoselivka Persha, Yevhenivka, Prohres, Umanske, and Nevelske.
  • On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces continued to advance in the center of Krasnohorivka, west of Solodke. Battles continued near Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Paraskoviivka, and Vodyane.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces opened a new offensive direction near Nesteryanka, made advances near Shcherbaky, and positional battles continued near Robotyne, Verbove, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Novoandriivka.
  • In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
    • Azov Sea: 3 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
    • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.  

Changes in the enemy disposition:

  • The 26th Tank Regiment of the 47th Tank Division and the 288th Artillery Brigade of the 1st Tank Army are engaged in combat operations on the Kupyansk direction.
  • The 57th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps is fighting in the forests east of Kostyantynivka. The 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps is advancing south of Kostyantynivka. The 10th Tank Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps is engaged in battles near Paraskoviivka. The 95th Rifle Battalion (formerly the 123rd Rifle Battalion of Mobilization Reserve of the 1st Army Corps) and the 95th Separate Detachment of the 10th Separate SOF Brigade are operating near Vuhledar.
  • Reformation of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear companies within separate motorized rifle brigades is underway, incorporating a heavy flamethrower platoon armed with the TOS-2, replacing the light flamethrower platoon equipped with the “Shmel” infantry jet flamethrower. This reorganization has been completed in the 25th, 37th, 38th, 57th, 59th, 60th, 64th, 69th, 70th, 80th, and 138th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades. Similar measures were previously implemented in tank brigades equipped with the TOS-1A.

Possible operation situation developments:

  • Despite the slowed pace of advancement in the Vovchansk direction, there are no signs of the enemy transitioning to defense on this direction, unlike on the Lyptsi direction.
  • The enemy’s “Sever” Operational Grouping command is preparing to cross the Vovcha River towards Hatyshche and Synelnykove to create conditions for the further advance of the 25th and 138th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 6th Combined Arms Army into the city of Vovchansk.
  • The enemy’s “Sever” Operational Grouping command will likely intensify efforts on the Vovchansk direction, possibly deploying 2-3 motorized rifle battalions and a tank battalion from the 6th Combined Arms Army towards Tykhe and Vovchanski Khutory.
  • Another potential development could be the enemy’s attempt to connect their footholds in the Vovchansk direction with those in the Lyptsi direction. To accomplish this, they might initiate offensive operations toward Buhruvatka-Starytsya, targeting Izbytske and Ternova. This would involve deploying additional motorized rifle and tank battalions on the western bank of the Siversky Donets River.
  • The deployment of reserves from the 44th Army Corps in the Lyptsi area (one battalion each from the 30th and 41st Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps) cannot be excluded.
  • Russian forces may initiate offensive operations on the Zolochiv direction, assembling a strike group 90 km northwest of Kharkiv for this purpose.
  • The enemy will soon capture the “Kanal” neighborhood in Chasiv Yar, as their forward units have taken an enveloping position around this part of the city.
  • The “Center” Operational Grouping command is focused on executing the following operational plan: to establish conditions for the blockade and encirclement of the Kurakhove area or to create advantageous circumstances for launching an offensive operation to encircle “Tavriya” OSG’s defense in Toretsk area from the south.
  • The Russian military command may redeploy the 7th and 76th Air Assault Divisions from the Robotyne area to the Luhansk, Kherson Oblasts in Ukraine, or Kursk Oblast in Russia.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 02.06.24  

Personnel – almost 509,860 (+1080); 

Tanks 7,765 (+25); 

Armored combat vehicles – 14,980 (+33); 

Artillery systems – 13,233 (+49);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,089 (+1);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 821 (+6);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 18,092 (+86);

Aircraft – 357 (0);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 10,699 (+82);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,268 (+38);

Boats/ships – 28 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

  • According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled 10 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 108 towns and villages and 120 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
  • On the night of June 2, 2024, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with an “Iskander-K” cruise missile towards Kharkiv Oblast, an S-300 guided missile from occupied Donetsk, and 25 strike UAVs. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 24 out of 25 “Shahed” UAVs.
  • During the past day, on June 1, Russian occupiers killed one resident of Donetsk Oblast and injured eight others.
  • Throughout the day on June 2, the area around Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was under enemy fire. There were 12 enemy attacks, including two heavy artillery shelling and 10 drone kamikaze strikes. An infrastructure object was damaged.
  • During the day on June 2, an explosion occurred in Odesa after the military warned that a high-speed target was approaching the city. No details were provided.
  • At approximately 5:10 on June 2, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the town of Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast. Medical facilities were damaged. Preliminary information suggests that the enemy used the “Iskander-M” missile.
  • Around 10:00, occupiers carried out airstrikes on the village of Borivska Andriivka. Two residential buildings caught fire. Two people sustained injuries. According to preliminary data, Russian military targeted the village with four glide bombs.
  • Russian authorities have begun training so-called “war correspondents” at all universities where “journalists” are trained. Current “war correspondents” already give lectures at relevant departments, passing on their experience in spreading hate and propaganda. The effort also involves youth in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, reports the Center National Resistance.
  • Emergency power outages have been cancelled in Kyiv, Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk Oblast, according to DTEK’s press service. Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Odesa, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts will return to stabilization schedules lasting from 18:00 to 24:00.

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