Russian forces conducted missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of June 20 to 21 and during the day on June 21.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk reported that Russian forces launched four Kh-59/69 cruise missiles against Kirovohrad and Kherson oblasts on the night of June 20 to 21 and that Ukrainian forces downed all four missiles.[60] Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Head Serhii Lysak reported that Russian forces struck a food warehouse in Kryvyi Rih with an unspecified missile during the day on June 21.[61] Odesa Oblast Military Administration Head Oleh Kiper reported that Russia conducted a ballistic missile strike against the coast of Odesa Oblast on June 21, damaging recreational infrastructure.[62]
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- Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to invoke nuclear threats as part of his ongoing information campaign to discourage further Western support for Ukraine and undermine the international community's efforts to cohere its strategic vision for defeating Russia’s war of conquest against Ukraine.
- Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov continued to emphasize Russia's initiative to create an alternative "Eurasian security architecture," likely as part of ongoing efforts to establish a coalition of friendly states to act as an alternative to the West and undermine NATO.
- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) criticized South Korean and Japanese objections to the Russian-North Korean strategic partnership agreement and directly tied the agreement to Russian President Vladimir Putin's "Eurasian security architecture" initiative.
- Ukrainian forces struck oil refineries and military targets in Bryansk and Astrakhan oblasts, Krasnodar Krai, and occupied Crimea on the night of June 20 to 21.
- Moscow State University (MGU) announced on June 21 that it has opened enrollment for a master's program on "strategic communications, information, and hybrid wars" under the guidance of Russian ultranationalist and former State Duma Deputy Zakhar Prilepin and other select Duma deputies.
- Russian forces recently advanced southeast of Kupyansk, southwest of Svatove, and west and southwest of Donetsk City.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) appears to be taking steps to address known bureaucratic issues as part of its efforts to formalize irregular Russian formations.
- An investigation by Russian opposition outlet Verstka highlights how Russia is importing Russian judges to serve in courts in occupied Ukraine, supporting Russian efforts to control the judiciary while also providing a convenient cover for the resettlement of Russian citizens into occupied Ukraine.
Russian forces recently advanced along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line amid continued Russian ground attacks in the area on June 21. Geolocated footage published on June 20 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced east of Pishchane (southeast of Kupyansk).[36] Additional geolocated footage published on June 21 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced west of Novovodyane (southwest of Svatove).[37] Fighting continued northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane, and Berestove; northwest of Svatove near Stelmakhivka; northwest of Kreminna near Novosadove, Hrekivka, and Nevske; and south of Kreminna in the Serebryanske forest area on June 20 and 21.[38] Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Spokesperson Andriy Yusov stated that Russian forces are attempting to transfer reserves to the Borova direction (west of Svatove) but are not forming "powerful" new assault groups in the area that could meaningfully threaten Ukrainian defenses in the Borova direction.[39]
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