Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 05.06 – 11.06

Russians blow up Kakhovka hydroelectric power station

On May 6, the South Operational Command reported that Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant caused an environmental disaster. Water from the reservoir began to flood towns and villages, and evacuations began. As a result of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam blowing up, there were problems with the water supply in Kryvyi Rih, Marhanets, and Nikopol.

We wrote about the consequences in more detail in this article and this one.

In addition, the ISW report notes that the balance of evidence, argumentation, and rhetoric indicates that the Russians deliberately damaged the dam, according to the institute.

 

US gives Ukraine $2.1 billion in military aid

The U.S. Department of Defense on Friday announced a new $2.1 billion military assistance package for Ukraine.

The new package of US military assistance is provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides for long-term contracts with industry or partner countries, so equipment will not be provided to Ukraine in the near future.

The package includes additional ammunition for Patriot air defense systems, HAWK air defense systems and missiles, 105-mm and 203-mm artillery rounds, Puma unmanned aerial systems, ammunition for laser-guided missile systems, and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment of equipment.

 

US Congress introduces a resolution calling for ATACMS to be provided to Ukraine

On Friday, members of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee representing the Democratic and Republican parties announced the introduction of a resolution calling on the administration of President Joe Biden to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles.

According to the resolution's co-author, Republican Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, if the United States does not provide Ukraine with all the necessary weapons, it will contribute to the prolongation of the war.

"The success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is directly linked to the military assistance provided by the United States and our allies. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the administration is withholding billions of dollars in military funding that could be immediately transferred to Ukraine and in turn help its armed forces make a significant difference on the battlefield," he said.

 

Scholz, Macron, and Duda to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine in Paris

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda will arrive in Paris next Monday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The dinner meeting is expected to focus on Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and security guarantees from its allies ahead of the Alliance's summit in July.

As you know, Ukraine is asking the West for mandatory security guarantees to ensure its long-term survival.

 

Ukrainian forces make localized gains in Zaporizhzhia region - ISW

Ukrainian forces in the western Zaporizhzhia region have achieved localized successes during counterattacks southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, according to geolocation data from June 10, according to a report  by the Institute for the Study of War.

Even though the geolocation footage indicates localized successes of the Ukrainian Defense Forces southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, Russian military commanders continue to claim that Russian troops in the area are successfully defending against Ukrainian offensive attempts, the institute noted.

The analysts said that Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region continue to defend themselves against Ukrainian attacks per sound tactical defense doctrine.

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.