Chechen soldiers defend Belgorod; Kyiv reports new progress.

A US general is confident in the counter-offensive, and a Swiss MP reacted unexpectedly to Zelensky's statement – ​​these are some of the latest news on the situation in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Swiss Parliament online on June 15, calling on Bern to ease arms exports to Kyiv. (Source: Getty Images)

On June 15, writing on Telegram , the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated that soldiers of the Chechen "West-Akhmat" battalion of the Russian Ministry of Defense had begun participating in countermeasures against sabotage groups from Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. According to Kadyrov, Chechen soldiers are stationed at a checkpoint near Nekhoteevka and are taking up duties at a checkpoint near the village of Kazinka, towards Graivoron, areas previously attacked.

Meanwhile, RIA (Russia) reported that the Ministry of Defense announced that its forces had successfully attacked drone (UAV) production facilities in Ukraine using long-range, high-precision weapons.

For its part, TASS quoted the ministry as saying that Russian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched by the US-made HIMARS system and shot down 25 UAVs.

* On June 15, speaking at a press conference, Ukrainian Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov announced that Kyiv had regained control of more than 100 square kilometers ^of territory in the recent offensive. Hromov emphasized: "We are ready to continue fighting to liberate our territory, even with our bare hands."

He confirmed that the initial phase of the counteroffensive had begun last week. Currently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU) have gained control of seven settlements in the Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia province.

Additionally, military officials said the VSU had advanced 3 km near the village of Mala Tokmachka, Zaporizhzhia, and 7 km near a village south of Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk.

* Assessing the latest developments in this counteroffensive, speaking to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 15, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Ukraine had launched an offensive and was making steady progress. He praised the leadership, skills, and morale of the Ukrainian forces.

At the same time, General Milley noted a lack of consistency in the leadership of Russian military officials, low morale among the Russian army, and their positions on the defensive. However, he also stated that this would be a very difficult period and Ukraine could lose a significant amount of time, at a very high cost.

* Also on June 15, the US, UK, Netherlands, and Denmark issued a joint statement emphasizing their cooperation in providing air defense equipment, including hundreds of missiles, to Ukraine. The joint statement, provided by London, indicated that the transfer of the aforementioned equipment had begun and would be completed “within a few weeks.”

Meanwhile, the German newspaper Handelsblatt , citing NATO sources, reported that Ukraine will receive an additional 14 Leopard-2 battle tanks worth €3 million from Western partners, funded by Denmark and the Netherlands. According to the report, these tanks will be supplied and refurbished by the German defense corporation Rheinmetall.

* In related news, on June 15, many right-wing members of the Swiss Parliament did not attend the same day's session to listen to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's online address calling on Bern to export weapons to Kyiv.

Accordingly, many members of the Swiss People's Party refused to attend the aforementioned event, in protest against "interference in internal affairs." Member of Parliament Alfred Heer of the party said: "We understand that the President of Ukraine wants us to help them defend themselves. However, we cannot put ourselves under pressure regarding issues related to sanctions or arms transfers."

For his part, writing on Twitter , MP Thomas Aeschi stated: “I object to the Ukrainian President’s speech in the Lower House. Ukraine is seeking to directly influence our Parliament to make decisions about the transfer of weapons or ammunition. If we do so, we will be violating our policy of neutrality.”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tinh-hinh-ukraine-binh-si-chechnya-phong-thu-o-belgorod-kiev-neu-buoc-tien-moi-231129.html