Brief Facts:
- Warriors of the National Guard of Ukraine have destroyed six Russian Su-25 aircraft since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 this year.
- Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Tymoshenko: Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated 1,017 settlements, 370 demined after 100 days of war.
- President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have had some success fighting Russians in the city of Sievierodonetsk but the overall military situation in the Donbas region has not changed in the last 24 hours.
Side note: news are marked in accordance with the Kyiv time zone: Eastern European Time (EET), GMT/UTC+2
Read more: The 99th Day of the War: Russian Casualties in Ukraine
Latest news
Dear readers! Defense Express has been covering the Ukraine-russia War for 100 days already. All this time we've been looking for the best, most accurate and quickest ways to deliver verified information about the war in our daily news feed and other articles and stories. Since February 24 many things changed, but our intentions remain the same. As we improved, we found other, more effective ways to deliver first-hand reports from Ukraine. Therefore Defense Express wraps up the daily "live updates" section for we can continue to cover the war in other ways. Stay tuned for more details soon.
23:19 "International legion" arrived in Severodonetsk
Ukrainian military unit consisting of foreign volunteer servicemen from 52 countries has come to reinforce the garrison defending eastern city of Severodonetsk. The information was shared by the Head of the Luhansk region administration Serhii Haidai, as reported by Stratcom Centre.
22:40 Nine russian attacks were repelled in the JFO area
Ukrainian military published daily reports on russian losses. On June 3rd, units of the Joint Armed Forces operating in the Eastern Operational Zone have destroyed:
- one tank;
- one artillery system;
- six armored fighting vehicles;
- two special armored vehicles;
- three non-armored vehicles;
- one "Eleron" UAV;
- two "Orlan-10" UAVs.
Units of the operational-tactical group "East" from the same zone have destroyed an ammunition warehouse, a few armored vehicles and 36 russian personnel.
22:17 Russians get "fired" for "trusting relationships" with Ukrainian military
Some scouts of russian armed forces fighting in Ukraine get covertly dismissed for establishing "trusting relationships" with Ukrainian servicemen and providing fake data to their command. That's according to the russian documents, seen by Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson of the Odesa region administration.
21:46 Germany can freely dispose of Swiss Leopard 2 tanks
Switzerland sold back its surplus Leopard 2 tanks to defense group Rheinmetall and allowed Germany to freely dispose of them, Reuters reports. Earlier, several European countries, after having sold their equipment to Ukraine, asked Switzerland for the transfer of surplus material from previous or current armed forces stocks.
"Germany can freely dispose of Leopard 2 tanks already sold back to the Rheinmetall company twelve years ago, as there are no longer any requirements here," Swiss defense procurement office said.
20:58 Russians were pushed 20% back in Severodonetsk
In the eastern city of Severodonetsk, the fighting continues, says the Head of Luhansk region administration Serhii Haidai. Ukrainian forces managed to push the occupiers from previously gained positions and regain control over some areas.
"If earlier the situation was difficult, and about 70% [of the city] was captured [by russians], now they got pushed 20% back," he said, mentioning that Ukrainian garrison was reinforced, hence the city won't be seized by russians any time soon.
20:37 Ukrainian forces carried out an operation in russian rear
According to the speaker of the Odesa region administration, Ukrainian Armed Forces have carried out a successful sabotage operation in the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia region, in the city of Polohy. As result, russian military equipment and ammunition got destroyed.
20:08 Belarus is planning military drills near Ukraine
The republic of belarus is preparing for military exercises from June 22 to July 1 in the country’s Gomel region, which borders Russia and Ukraine, according to the Belarus Weekly newsletter, Kyiv Independent reports. According to the Belarusian state-controlled TV channel ONT, Belarus has deployed mechanized infantry, mortar crews, artillery, an anti-aircraft missile regiment, and drones to reinforce its border. Earlier belarussian leader lukashenka ordered to create a southern operational command.
19:38 Sixth package of sanctions against russia came into force
"The European Commission welcomes the adoption of the sixth package of restrictive measures against Russia," said the statement of the EU Commission. In addition to the previous five, those are designed to further increase economic pressure on russia and undermine its ability to continue the war in Ukraine. The sanctions list includes oil import restrictions, denial of insurance for russian oil transporters, and removal of the largest russian bank Sberbank from the SWIFT payment system. More details.
19:07 Deminers found an explosive in on children's playground
An anti-personnel landmine POM-2 was found by the pyrotechnicians and neutralized, said Yevheniy Yenin, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Mines of this type are among the most commonly used by the russian occupiers in Ukraine, according to him.
"Such an anti-personnel mine was removed by our pyrotechnicians yesterday in a children's sandbox. And this is one of the most dangerous anti-personnel mines, which has a fragmentary nature of action, and is designed to strike the enemy's manpower," he told journalists.
18:55 The russo-Ukraine war has revealed the bureaucratic issues in the defense sector of a number of European countries. In this case it’s terms of getting modern IFVs for the Polish army.
Find more details in the article by Defense Express: How Soon Poland Can Refuse From the Soviet BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
17:40 It’s been already said that the Afghan Mi-17 helicopters are in service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Now there’s more than the words, which would be much stronger evidence to that.
Find more in the article by Defense Express: The Armed Forces of Ukraine Already Use the US-Given Afghan Mi-17 Helicopters (Photo)
17:00 The Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Haidai: Sievierodonetsk remains unseized, fierce battles raging on streets.
“Now Luhansk Region is an outpost of Ukraine, and lots of Russian invasion forces are concentrated here. Today, fierce battles are raging in Sievierodonetsk. By the way, Kadyrov’s men reported they had captured the city. It is a lie, as battles are raging in the city. Heavy battles, directly in the city of Sievierodonetsk,” Haidai told, Ukrinform reports.
16:30 Operational Command “South” posted another video by the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. The Stugna-P ATGM operator successfully destroyed russia’s tank.
15:55 How could you know that your enemy’s suffering heavy armor shortage? Just according to the tanks taken from storage, which are “bald” and literally overgrown with grass.
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Tanks Overgrown With Weeds Being Taken From Storage In russia: How Long It Takes to Restore Them
14:20 Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Tymoshenko: Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated 1,017 settlements, 370 demined after 100 days of war.
"During this time, Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated 1,017 settlements from the invaders, 370 of them have already been demined, whereas in others, the State Emergency Service is working," Tymoshenko said at a briefing, Ukrinform reports.
13:50 No matter what army capacity is, there can be a reasonable amount of military aid provided. Luxemburg set an example of such support: Luxembourg's money at the start of the russo-Ukraine war helped pay for the supply of hundreds of NLAW to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Find more details in the article by Defense Express: From Luxemburg With NLAW: How the Smallest Army in Europe Helped Ukraine Destroy russia’s Tanks
12:59 Russian forces are covering their warships with civilian ships in the Black Sea, near the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol.
The Ukrainian Navy said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
"The leadership of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation began to use the insidious Russian 'tactics' known since 2014, but now at sea," the statement said.
According to the report, war criminals bring ships of the merchant fleet to the roadstead of Sevastopol with the AIS identification systems turned off so that they cannot be recognized as civilian ships.
"Hiding their warships behind them, the invaders continue to destroy peaceful Ukrainian cities and kill our citizens with Kalibr cruise missiles. All this once again shows the true face of the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Navy said.
12: 25 Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov: Russia constructing defenses in Kherson, trying to move war into 'protracted phase'.
Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said he believed the Kremlin was trying to move the war into a “protracted phase” by building layered defenses in occupied regions in the south of the country, The Guardian reports.
“The Kremlin is trying to move the war into a protracted phase,” Reuters reports he told the Globsex 2022 Bratislava forum by video link.
“Instead of advancing, the Russian armies are constructing layered defenses” in southern occupied regions, primarily Kherson, he said.
Reznikov also addressed the issue of potential Nato membership for Ukraine. The alliance is meeting to discuss its’ ten year strategy in June, and Reznikov said “Ukraine will be also part of the strategy, because we also are the part of eastern flank of Europe, the eastern flank of Nato countries, eastern flank of the EU. I think it will be a win-win situation for all countries,” Reznikov said, “if we are talking about the membership of Ukraine with Nato de facto not de jure, it could be the good idea in this strategy.”
11:50 Ukraine presidential adviser: 'Our partners know where their weapons are used'.
The Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has tweeted that Ukraine does not intend to use US weapons to attack Russian territory, and said it is disinformation from Russia to suggest they would, The Guardian reports.
He tweeted: “Task #1 today for Russia — to undermine trust between Ukraine and US. Ukraine is waging a defensive war and does not plan to use the MLRS to attack facilities in Russia. Our partners know where their weapons are used. Any allegations of such intentions - PSYOP of Russian special services.”
11:03 Today at about 5 am, Russian troops fired with multiple rocket launchers and mortars between the Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, according to the State Border Guard Service.
There are no significant damage or casualties.
10:22 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published a new summary of total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 03.06. Find them in an infographic by Defense Express:
So far, the list of the enemy's combat losses is the following:
Personnel - more, 30950 (+100),
Tanks ‒ 1367 (+4) units,
APV ‒ 3366 (+12) units,
Artillery systems – 675 (+14) units,
MLRS – 207 (+0) units,
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 95 (+0) units,
Aircraft – 210 (+0) units,
Helicopters – 175 (+0) units,
UAV operational-tactical level – 535 (+14) units,
Cruise missiles - 121 (+1),
Boats / cutters – 13 (+0) units,
Special equipment – 51 (+2),
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 2329(+4) units.
Russian enemy suffered the greatest losses (of the past day) at the Bakhmut direction.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The 99th Day of the War: Russian Casualties in Ukraine
09:40 Defense Intelligence summarized the results of the 100 days since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian forces failed to achieve their initial objectives to seize Kyiv and Ukrainian centres of government. Staunch Ukrainian resistance and the failure to secure Hostomel airfield in the first 24 hours led to Russian offensive operations being repulsed.
Following the failure of the initial plan, through false planning assumptions and poor tactical execution, Russia adapted its operational design to focus on the Donbas.
Russia is now achieving tactical success in the Donbas. Russian forces have generated and maintained momentum and currently appear to hold the initiative over Ukrainian opposition.
Russia controls over 90% of Luhansk Oblast and is likely to complete control in the next two weeks. Russia has achieved these recent tactical successes at significant resource cost, and by concentrating force and fires on a single part of the overall campaign.
Russia has not been able to generate manoeuvre or movement on other fronts or axes, all of which have transitioned to the defensive.
Measured against Russia’s original plan, none of the strategic objectives have been achieved. In order for Russia to achieve any form of success will require continued huge investment of manpower and equipment, and is likely to take considerable further time.
09:00 More than 724 children were injured in Ukraine due to the Russian war in Ukraine, according to the Prosecutor Generalʼs Office.
The number of killed children has not changed in a day. The number of wounded has increased — in a hundred days, Russian troops injured 463 children.
These figures are inconsistent, warn the Prosecutor Generalʼs Office. Work is underway to identify them in places where hostilities are taking place, as well as in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories.
The largest number of children was injured in the Donetsk oblast — 187.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine (May)
08:36 The Washington Post: Russia has repeatedly asked China for help during the war in Ukraine, including in economic and financial terms. But the Chinese government is in no hurry to do so because it fears Western sanctions.
According to sources in the publication, Beijing explained that they understand the difficult situation in Russia, but can not ignore their own, and therefore will always act in the interests of the Chinese people.
China allegedly did not expect the war to last more than three months. Now they are looking for opportunities to help Russia financially, but not to violate sanctions. They are also looking for other ways to help, including diplomatic ones.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Chinese Drone Company Withdraws From Russia and Ukraine
07:50 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released the new operational update on the state of warfare as of 06:00 on June 3.
Here are some key points of the report:
- In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the main efforts of the armed forces of the republic of belarus are focused on strengthening the protection of the state border.
- russian enemy fired a missile at civilian infrastructure in the Hudovo district of Sumy oblast. Also in the Sumy region, the enemy fired on the areas of Bachivsk, Khodyne and Slavgorod.
- In the Slobozhansky direction, russian enemy continues to prepare for the offensive.
- • russian enemy did not take any active action in the Kharkiv direction. The main efforts are focused on deterring the actions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
- • In the Slovyansk direction, russian enemy is concentrating in particular on the engineering equipment of the positions. The shelling of civilian infrastructure was recorded in the districts of Dibrivny, Kurulka, Vernopillya, Chervona Polyana and others.
- In the Donetsk direction, russian occupiers continue artillery fire along the entire line of contact.
- In the Lyman direction, russian enemy fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Yarova, Shchurove, Staryi Karavan and Raihorodok. It carried out assaults near Studenka, the fighting continues.
- In the Siverodonetsk direction, russian invaders continue to shell the positions of the Defense Forces and civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Siverodonetsk, Borivske, Ustynivka and Lysychansk. russian enemy assault aircraft launched air strikes near the Myrna Dolyna. In addition, in the area of Mietolkino and Bilohorivka, the enemy tried to carry out assault operations, suffered losses, retreated to previous positions.
- Fighting continues in the central part of Siverodonetsk.
- In the Bakhmut direction, russian enemy fires in the areas of Pokrovske, New York, Zolote, Komyshuvakha, Mykolayivka, Berestove, Bilohorivka and Vrubivka. Near the latter, the occupiers conducted unsuccessful assault operations.
- With the assault forces and army aircraft, russian enemy launched air strikes on infrastructure near the Vidrodzhennia, Rotiv, Novoluhansk and Dolomtne.
- russian enemy did not conduct active hostilities in the Avdiivka, Kurakhiv, Novopavliv and Zaporizhzhia areas. It fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of Kamyanka, Vesele, Mariinka, Novomykhailivka, Avdiivka, Pisky, and Zolota Nyva. It tried to engage in clashes and assault operations near Krasnohorivka and Poltavka with the help of separate units and sabotage and reconnaissance groups. It was unsuccessful, retreated to previous positions.
- During the day, russian enemy used mortars, artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Kavkaz, Lepetykha, Dmytrivka, Osokorivka, Blahodiyne, and Stepova Dolyna. In some areas of the Kryvyi Rih direction, russian enemy intensified air reconnaissance and attempted assault operations. It was repulsed and retreated to his former position.
- In order to maintain the boundaries of the defense, russian occupiers are strengthening their advanced positions by moving reserves to probable areas of deployment of units of the Defense Forces.
- Some units of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army in the Popasna direction suffered significant losses, at least 50% of the personnel, weapons and equipment.
- The personnel of russain enemy is demoralized, which is due to the constant postponement of their rotation. This leads to the refusal of personnel to participate in hostilities.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukraine’s General Staff Operational Report: Heavy Artillery Shelling On Ukraine’s Positions, Enemy Conducts Electronic Warfare
07:00 Ukraine at UN Security Council: The final accord of the war will be tribunal for Putin, Shoigu and Lavrov. The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian delegation, represented by Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN Serhii Dvornyk, at the open debate of the United Nations Security Council on strengthening responsibility and punishment for serious violations of international law, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
In his words, Ukraine has been supportive of the idea to create a special criminal tribunal for the punishment of the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
“Such a tribunal will be the final accord of the war for Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Lavrov and other Russian war criminals. After 100 days of courageous resistance of the Armed Forces and the entire Ukrainian people, it is clear that this unprovoked and unjustified aggressive war will end in Russia’s defeat. A defeat that will be a victory for the whole civilized world,” Dvornyk said.
In his words, 1,200 bodies of killed civilians were discovered in Kyiv Region alone after the Russian army retreated. The number of civilian casualties in Mariupol can be counted only after the deoccupation of the city.
According to Dvornyk, about 200-300 war crimes are committed in Ukraine daily, and their total number since the beginning of the invasion has exceeded 15,000.
Dvornyk also emphasized that Ukraine will continue to fight for the safe and quick return of more than 230,000 Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine (May)
04:35 Warriors of the National Guard of Ukraine have destroyed six Russian Su-25 aircraft since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 this year.
Oleksii Hadtochyi, head of the operational department of the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine, said this at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
"Since the beginning of hostilities, air defense units of the National Guard have destroyed 17 air targets, including six Su-25 aircraft. At the same time, two Su-25 aircraft were destroyed by a National Guard conscript using an Igla MANPADS," he said.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
01:00 Ukrainian troops acting as a part of Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Group continue to conduct a defense operation in a certain area of responsibility in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. Defenders of Ukraine have repulsed five enemy attacks on Thursday, June 2. Fighting continues at two locations.
The relevant statement was made by the Joint Forces Operation Task Force on Facebook.
"Ukrainian defenders of the Joint Forces Task Force have repulsed five enemy attacks today. Fighting is still going on at two locations. Our brave warriors inflict manpower and hardware losses on ruscist invaders," the post reads.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Defenders of Ukraine Repel 5 Enemy Attacks, Destroy 5 russia’s Tanks, 3 UAVs in JFO Area
00:35 Russian troops killed 9 employees at Chornobyl nuclear plant, stole equipment.
It is according the information reviled in article in Washington Post.
Yevhen Kramarenko, the director of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, said the Russians had stolen equipment totaling $135 million, including nearly 700 computers, 344 vehicles, 1,500 radiation dosimeters, and firefighting equipment, the Washington Post reported. In addition, they kidnapped five workers before leaving the plant on March 31.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Washington Post
In Chernobyl’s delicate nuclear labs, Russians looted safety systems
00:10 Ukrainian forces have had some success fighting Russians in the city of Sievierodonetsk but the overall military situation in the Donbas region has not changed in the last 24 hours, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday, The Guardian reports
In a late night video address, Zelenskiy thanked US President Joe Biden for promising to send missiles and said he expected good news about weapons supplies from other partners.
Read more: Day 99th of War Between Ukraine and Russian Federation (Live Updates)
