First, links to reports from National Public Radio, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. Then, two articles of opinion published in early June, from Foreign Affairs magazine and from a Substack account. A link to to Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s June 2 address in Helsinki is HERE. — MCM
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Ukraine’s long-awaited military offensive against Russia has begun. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Greg Myre | NPR Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has finally broken the silence and announced a long-awaited military offensive against Russia is underway. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Ukraine says it recaptured fourth village in modest counteroffensive gains, by Tom Balmforth | Reuters Ukrainian officials today claimed the country’s forces have recaptured a fourth village in their counteroffensive against Russian troops. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukraine’s flag was flying over the Storozhov village again, adding . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s improved weaponry and tactics pose challenges to Ukraine’s counteroffensive. From AP. Ukrainian troops are probing Russian defenses as spring gives way to a second summer of fighting, and Kyiv’s forces are facing an enemy that has made mistakes and suffered setbacks in the 15-month-old war. But analysts say Moscow also has learned from . . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia says beat back Ukraine in villages claimed by Kyiv. From AFP. Russia said today it had repelled Ukrainian attacks around several villages in the war-battered southeast of the country, contradicting earlier claims from Kyiv’s forces that they had retaken the settlements. The contradictory reports from Kyiv and Moscow come as analysts have said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s latest counteroffensive attacks: Small but significant gains, by Pete Shmigel | The Kyiv Post Relatively small but potentially significant gains in four areas of the 1,000-kilometer-long frontline have been made by Ukraine during the first week of a new phase of its counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territories. Ukrainian offensive action has . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukrainian unit loses most of its Bradley fighting vehicles in Zaporozhye – news agency. From Tass. PARIS — A Ukrainian military unit lost most of its U.S.-made Bradley fighting vehicles during an offensive in Zaporozhye, the France-Presse news agency reported. According to it, the fighting vehicles were eliminated near the town of Orekhovo. On June 10, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian troops had lost nine tanks over 24 hours south of Donetsk and in the Zaporozhye area, including four Leopard . . . READ MORE . . .
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Chechen force signs contract with Russia’s defence ministry that Prigozhin refused. From Reuters. Russia’s Defence Ministry said today it has signed a contract with the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces, a day after Russia’s powerful mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin refused to do so. The signing followed an order that all “volunteer units” should sign contracts by July 1 bringing them . . . READ MORE . . .
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An unwinnable war, by Samuel Charap | Foreign Affairs Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a moment of clarity for the United States and its allies. An urgent mission was before them: to assist Ukraine as it countered Russian aggression and to punish Moscow for its transgressions. While the Western response was clear from the start, the objective . . . READ MORE . . .
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Blinken’s battle hymn, by Seymour Hersh | Substack Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in a June 2 speech in Helsinki outdid himself in the fierceness of his commitment to the Ukraine war. He was dismissive of any talk of a ceasefire — something desperately needed by an increasingly besieged Ukrainian army and citizenry. Does America’s secretary of State not . . . READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED