These images show Russian riflemen allegedly firing on Ukrainian targets with armored vehicles and rocket launchers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed the offensive was carried out by members of the Western Military District, one of the five military districts of the Russian Armed Forces.
The Russian division allegedly used tanks and small arms to beat back the Ukrainian positions.
The MoD claimed on Wednesday, June 29: “Combat action by a motorized rifle unit of the Western Military District.
“The motorized rifle company of a battalion-tactical group took up a new line after an offensive and opened fire on positions of AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] units using tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and small arms.
“The motorized company struck the identified enemy positions identified during a battle with artillery and mortars.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin still calls a “special military operation.” Today marks the 126th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and June 29, Russia had lost about 35,450 personnel, 1,572 tanks, 3,720 armored combat vehicles, 781 artillery units, 246 multiple launch rocket systems, 103 air defense systems, 217 warplanes, 185 helicopters, 640 drones, 142 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,598 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 61 units of special equipment.
Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership after initially opposing the countries’ bids to join the military alliance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had met with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the NATO summit in Madrid.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary-General, said: “I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO.”
President Joe Biden congratulated the three countries, saying: “Congratulations to Finland, Sweden, and Turkey on signing a trilateral memorandum – a crucial step towards a NATO invite to Finland and Sweden, which will strengthen our Alliance and bolster our collective security – and a great way to begin the Summit.”
The Russian bombing of a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has been described by President Zelenskyy as one of the “most brazen terrorist acts in European history.” Over 1,000 people are said to have been inside the building when it was hit by missiles.
The death toll has risen to 18 people confirmed dead, with another 59 injured and 25 being treated in hospital. Some 36 people are still unaccounted for.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United Nations to visit the site and demanded that Russia be expelled as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, accusing the country of becoming a “terrorist state.”
Russia claimed on Tuesday, June 28, that it had hit a nearby weapons depot, with the explosion sparking the shopping mall blaze.
NATO plans to boost its quick reaction forces from 40,000 to over 300,000 troops.
