Where is the broad Ukrainian counter-offensive? Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned, on Saturday June 10, “counter-offensive and defensive actions” of his army on the front, while refusing to say if it was the great attack prepared for months by the general staff in kyiv. Franceinfo looks back on the highlights of the day.
Ukrainian president reports ‘actions’ by his army
“Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, and I will not talk about them in detail”Volodymy Zelensky said at a press conference. “We have to trust our soldiers and I trust them”, he added. These comments follow those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said on Friday that the great Ukrainian counter-offensive intended to push back troops from Moscow had begun. The Russian army has reported large-scale attacks mainly on the southern front for six days. For their part, the Ukrainian authorities have seemed to minimize the extent of the fighting on the front in recent days while remaining vague on their strategy.
Spokesman for the Ukrainian army’s “Eastern” command, Sergiy Tcherevaty, said on Saturday on television that Ukrainian troops had managed to advance 1,400 meters around the devastated city of Bakhmout in the east, whom Moscow claimed to have captured in May.
>> STORY. War in Ukraine: Bakhmout, a fierce battle that has become “both Ukrainian Verdun and Stalingrad”
New drone attack in Odessa
The major Ukrainian port of Odessa on the Black Sea was once again targeted by a drone attack at dawn, which left three dead and 26 injured, regional authorities announced. All machinery was destroyed but debris fell on an apartment building, causing fire and damage to several buildings. “Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilian population”, added the Ukrainian authorities. Among the injured are three children, they said.
Emmanuel Macron calls on Iran “to immediately end support” for Russia
During a telephone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi, the French head of state “alert to the seriousness of the consequences, both security and humanitarian, of the delivery by Iran of drones to Russia and called on Tehran to immediately end the support it thus provides to the Russian war of aggression against the ‘Ukraine”according to a press release from the Elysée.
A White House spokesman said Friday that Russia “(received) materials from Iran to build a drone factory” on its soil and that this site “could be fully operational early next year”. Tehran has repeatedly judged “unfounded” US accusations of arms supplies to Russia, claiming not to be a party to the Ukrainian conflict.
Canadian Prime Minister makes a surprise visit to Kyiv
On the diplomatic front, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday in the Ukrainian capital blamed Russia for the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in southern Ukraine. “There is absolutely no doubt in our mind that the destruction of the dam is a direct consequence of Russia’s decision to invade the country”, he said alongside Ukrainian President Zelensky. However, the Canadian leader did not accuse Moscow of having been at the origin of the explosion which caused a huge breach in the dam, for which the two camps reject responsibility.
Russia promises response after Iceland closes Moscow embassy
Iceland is the first country to take such a step since the start of the war in February 2022. Icelandic Foreign Minister Thórdís Gylfadóttir explained on Friday that “the current situation simply does not allow the small diplomatic representation to (Reykjavík) to operate in Russia”.
“Any anti-Russian actions from Reykjavik will inevitably elicit a response”the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, accusing Iceland of having “ruin” relations between the two countries. “We will take this unfriendly decision into account when building our relationship with Iceland in the future”he added, considering that “full responsibility for this development lies” in Reykjavík.
