The rapid reconstitution of tactical units may give Ukraine the best chance at gaining the initiative in the next phase of the Ukrainian War. Ukraine shot down two Onyx missiles, while Russian troops attacked a brickyard in Lviv and the national power company suffered shelling from artillery. But the question remains: can the Ukrainians preempt a Russian offensive? Yes, they can, and they have the means to do so.
Ukraine’s air defense shot down two Onyx missiles
Russia and Ukraine have launched a series of attacks on each other. During the war, Ukrainian air defense units shot down two Onyx missiles. Russian long-range bombers have also attacked Ukraine, and their strikes have destroyed at least eight unmanned aerial vehicles and ten light-armored armored vehicles. A Ukrainian company tactical group, two Onyx missiles, and ten light armored vehicles were destroyed.
As part of the offensive, Russia has sent a missile cruiser armed with anti-armor systems and anti-aircraft systems. Ukraine’s air defense shot down two of these missiles, and the country has been fighting Russia for the past two years. The missile cruiser, Moskva, is part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It’s unclear how many missiles the Ukrainian military has shot down so far, but it’s clear Ukraine is fighting back.
Russia has accused Ukraine of firing missiles into civilian areas overnight, citing radio intercepts that were unreliable. A Russian foreign minister said the move to install additional weapons in Ukraine is a “direct provocation” and warned that multiple rocket launchers could lead to expanded conflict. This latest accusation has been confirmed by several news sources. The U.S. embassy in Kiev reopens after a three-month closure.
Russian troops attacked a brickyard in Lviv
An al Jazeera correspondent reporting from Lviv said that thick black smoke was billowing behind her. The western region of Ukraine has been relatively spared by the violence, but the attack in Lviv, near Poland’s border, is a clear sign of escalation. The city is surrounded by a dense network of roads, and this attack on its brickyard and its neighbouring oil depot was a clear escalation in the conflict.
The area was in an uphill climb, and Ukrainian forces are battling the enemy with heavy artillery. One of the key objectives of the war in the south is the liberation of Kherson Oblast. The government says it has received about 10% of the weapons it requested. The military is also reporting heavy fighting near Verkhnyi Saltov, Ternova, and Tsupovka.
Ukraine’s national power company was hit by artillery shelling
During the fighting in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces continue to conduct ground assaults around Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. In the eastern Donbas, Ukrainian forces continue counteroffensives toward the Russian-occupied cities of Bakhmut and Luhansk. Russian forces also continue to make incremental advances near Izyum, where Ukrainian defenders are in control of the industrial area. Additionally, the Russians continued to fortify their positions near the T2207 highway, which is a major transportation route between Kyiv and the Russian-occupied territories.
On June 5, Russian forces fired five X-22 cruise missiles from a Tu-95 aircraft at Kyiv. They were targeting the city of Severodonetsk, where the Kremlin has concentrated their forces. One of the targets of the missiles was the Darnytsia rail car repair plant, a large industrial complex on the outskirts of Kyiv. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the strike was to target T-72 tanks supplied to Ukraine by other Eastern European countries. Nevertheless, images show that missiles struck the rail car repair plant.
Ukraine could preempt a Russian offensive by fighting on its own territory
In a scenario where Ukraine faces an imminent Russian attack, it is conceivable that it could preempt the offensive by fighting on its own territory. By retaking Kherson, the disputed city connected to Crimea by the Perekop Isthmus, Ukraine could defeat Russian forces and preempt the invasion. In addition, an attack on Crimea would disrupt Russian supply lines and make it difficult for Ukraine to mobilize its own military reserves.
In a scenario where the Russian army invades Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s armed forces could counterattack to liberate areas near Kyiv and Chernihiv. This could thwart a Russian offensive and stabilize certain areas while waiting for Russia to back down. However, a Russian attack would likely lead to a loss of morale for the Russian army.