Russia says it shot down Su-25, Kiev states Moscow's motive for destroying Kakhovka dam

Russia and Ukraine exchanged nearly 200 people, and Italian officials commented on the possibility of Kyiv joining NATO – these are some of the latest developments regarding the situation in Ukraine.

Russia claims to have shot down a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter jet near Kherson. (Source: Chris Lofting/Key.Aero)

On June 11, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in Kherson, where the Kakhovka dam collapsed earlier this week. The ministry also reported repelling three Ukrainian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The Russian military also stated that Ukraine had failed to attack a Black Sea Fleet vessel protecting the Turkstream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the Black Sea.

On the same day, speaking on Russian television channel Rossiya , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized: “The fact is that there are no preconditions for an agreement (with Ukraine) at this time. Moreover, there is no basis, not even a tenuous one, for any such dialogue.”

* Also on June 11, writing on Telegram , the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 94 of its citizens had been released after negotiations and would be taken to a medical facility for health checks.

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, also confirmed the exchange. He stated that 95 Ukrainian citizens, including members of the National Guard and border guards, had been released, some of whom are still injured.

According to this Ukrainian official, those released were mostly operating near the city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian forces for weeks last year.

* Regarding the situation in Ukraine, a new report by the Institute for the Study of the War (ISW) on the current offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU) states that the Ukrainian army is successfully counterattacking in four directions. According to ISW, the VSU has attacked in the Belogorovka area of ​​Lugansk province, the Bakhmut area from both flanks, as well as the Velyka Novosilka area.

According to reports based on satellite imagery and Ukrainian sources, the VSU achieved some localized successes in the western part of Zaporizhzhia province, specifically in southwestern and southeastern Orekhov. However, ISW also noted that, according to Russian information, Ukrainian attacks were repelled. Russia continues to maintain its defensive line, while the VSU suffered significant losses in personnel and equipment.

British officials also shared a similar view regarding the VSU's successful counterattack.

* For her part, writing on Telegram , Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated: “The explosion at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant was clearly carried out with the intention of preventing Ukrainian defense forces from launching a counterattack in Kherson.” According to her, the consequences of this action, including a major flood that submerged towns and villages and trapped residents, were also aimed at supporting Russia in deploying reserve forces to the Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut regions.

* On the same day, following a proposal from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree imposing sanctions on 178 individuals, mostly Russian citizens.

Specifically, Decree No. 321/2023 “On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated June 11, 2023 'On the application and modification of special economic measures against individuals and other restrictive (sanction) measures'” imposed sanctions on 178 people, including the Chief Justice of the Russian Constitutional Court, Valery Zorkin. These measures, valid for five years, stipulate asset freezes, restrictions on commercial activities, suspension of economic and financial obligations, prohibition of technology and intellectual property transfers, and other limitations.

Earlier, at the end of May, President Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on 51 citizens and 220 organizations from Russia and several European countries.

* In related news, in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica , Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Kyiv's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) must wait until the conflict in Ukraine ends. However, he also clarified: “But in the meantime, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, we will determine Ukraine's path to accession... Meanwhile, we are moving towards a NATO-Ukraine Permanent Council. This is an important step, as Kyiv will participate in international decisions.”

Commenting on Italy's support for Ukraine, he said: "We are doing what is necessary. We are not sending F-16s because we don't have them and therefore we cannot provide flight training on these aircraft. Our aid package includes military supplies, uniforms, bulletproof vests, and ammunition."

Regarding his planned visit to the United States shortly thereafter, the Italian Foreign Minister also emphasized: “My visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm the transatlantic solidarity with the United States and our shared vision for the Ukrainian crisis. We hope that Ukraine’s counterattack will be a step towards a just peace. Without Kyiv’s security, there can be no peace…”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tinh-hinh-ukraine-nga-noi-ban-roi-su-25-kiev-neu-dong-co-pha-dap-kakhovka-cua-moscow-230644.html