War For Ukraine Day 120: Just a Brief Update Tonight

After two doses of antibiotics, four quarts of won ton soup doctored with garlic chili paste and some other stuff, and my usual ginourmous bowl of oatmeal with banana and blueberries, I’m feeling much better than I was. However, looking at a computer screen for any length of time makes my eyes hurt and makes me feel woozy. So I’m just going to do a very basic update tonight.

Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address to the EU Council from earlier today. As you can imagine, it’s largely about the positive EU vote. The video below does not have subtitles, the English transcript is after the jump:

Greetings to all our friends, all leaders-friends of Ukraine!

Greetings to all who support freedom!

That is how I began my address to the European Council on March 24, three months ago, when I urged you to support us.

And that’s quite a path we have come in these three months! All of us together: Ukraine, your states and the European Union as a whole.

This path is not politics. I believe this is what will always be the starting point of Europe’s new history. Europe without division. Europe without “gray” zones. Europe that is truly united and that knows how to defend itself, its values, its future.

Today you have adopted one of the most important decisions for Ukraine in all 30 years of independence of our state.

However, I believe this decision is not only for Ukraine. This is the biggest step towards strengthening Europe that could be taken right now, in our time and in such difficult conditions, when the Russian war is testing our ability to preserve freedom and unity.

On the fifth day of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, we applied to join the European Union. We provided extremely fast and high-quality answers to the questionnaire we received from the European Commission.

And here is the desired result today. Today, I would like to reaffirm that Ukraine is capable of becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union.

Then, three months ago, I addressed each country of the European Union and indicated at what stage we were, as I thought, in our relations. And today I would like to tell each and every one of you personally what our people feel, and in the same order as it was then.

Lithuania stands for us. Thank you, Mr. President! Gitanas, you know how grateful Ukraine is to your people and to you personally.

Latvia stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! I believe that together we will be able to strengthen the international legal order.

Estonia stands for us. Thank you, Mrs. Prime Minister Kallas! By helping one, we help everyone. Estonia has done a lot.

Poland stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! Your state, your people, your President – all of you on this path to Europe are truly brothers with us.

France stands for us. Thank you, Emmanuel! You can be sure that with Ukraine, Europe will really be able to be among the global leaders in the XXI century.

Slovenia stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! I am grateful for the unwavering protection of the common European cause.

Slovakia stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! We have to continue to protect each other, it makes us really strong.

The Czech Republic stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! I believe that we will also be together on the path to Ukraine’s full membership in the EU.

Romania stands for us. Thank you, Mr. President! Klaus, our cooperation in the region and in European structures can indeed become one of the foundations of global stability.

Bulgaria stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! Thank you for choosing the side of good in the confrontation that began on February 24 without hesitation. We know it’s not easy for you.

Greece stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! And I’m personally thankful to the Greek people, your country, which I really love.

Germany stands for us. Thank you, Olaf! Thank you for your support at a crucial moment.

Portugal stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! Your country knows our people well. And I am sure that we will only increase positive ties between us.

Croatia stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! And thank you for the help with the experience we use to protect our freedom.

Sweden stands for us. Thank you, Mrs. Prime Minister! Blue and yellow truly always stand together!

Finland stands for us. Thank you, Mrs. Prime Minister! Your willingness to resist aggression is simply amazing!

The Netherlands stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! You can be sure that your choice of Ukraine will definitely strengthen our common European freedom, the rule of law and our unity in diversity.

Malta stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! The voice of your island makes the European community complete.

Denmark stands for us. Thank you, Mrs. Prime Minister! Be sure that the protection of European values will only increase with Ukraine.

Luxembourg stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! We truly understand each other, and your energy inspires us to future victories.

Cyprus stands for us. Thank you, Mr. President! Thank you for the choice in favor of our people and our values.

Italy stands for us. Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister! Thank you for your strength, for your perseverance. Thank you for proving that the principles of decent people are truly the foundation of Europe.

Spain stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! I believe that we can significantly strengthen our relations.

Belgium stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! We hope that after our victory we will be able to see each other often in Brussels on common European affairs.

Austria stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Chancellor! I am convinced that we will be able to make Europe even safer and historically the most stable.

Ireland stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister! This is a historic rapprochement of our nations. Your personal leadership is truly impressive.

Hungary stands for us. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you, Viktor, together we are capable of much more than alone!

Mrs. President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola! We are grateful to you personally and grateful to the European Parliament! You were the first to support Ukraine’s candidate status the day after our application.

Mr. President of the European Council, dear Charles, Mrs. President of the European Commission, dear Ursula, I am grateful to you both for the leadership that has led us all to this day. I am grateful for the sincere help, for the faith in Ukraine, in Ukrainians, in all of us.

I have always said that we, Ukrainians, believe in the European Union. Although we remained formally outside the European Union, our country probably had the largest number of flags of a united Europe.

They were in the hands of our people during the revolutions. They have been in the hands of our people in the trenches since 2014. I believe that the flag of the European Union will be in every Ukrainian city that we have yet to liberate from the occupation of the Russian Federation.

Ukrainian and European flags will also be together when we will be rebuilding our state after this war together.

And today in the framework of our joint meeting – the summit of all European leaders, I would like to express special gratitude to our heroes – each and everyone who defends the independence of Ukraine with weapons in their hands, defends the freedom of Europe.

Thank you! Thank you for making possible a new history of Ukraine, a new history of Europe – even stronger, even freer.

Thank you all so much!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s today’s operational update from Ukraine’s MOD:

The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 18.00 on June 23, 2022

The one hundred twentieth (120) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.

In the Volyn and Polissya directions, there were no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were found. Units of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus continue to perform tasks to cover the belarusian-Ukrainian border. Mobilization exercises are held with the military commissariats of some regions, where issues of notification and manning of military units are worked out.

In the Siversky direction, the enemy continues to provide enhanced protection of the Ukrainian-russian border. It fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Stari Vyrky, Atynske and Starykove.

In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy carried out artillery shelling of civilian and military infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Kharkiv, Ruska Lozova, Pechenihy, Khrestyshche, Mospanove, Stary Saltiv, Ruski Tyshky, and Pryshyb.

In the Slovyansk direction, the enemy fires on civilian infrastructure from artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers in the areas of Bohorodychne, Adamivka, Dibrivne, Kurulka, Petrovske, Virnopillya and Mazanivka. Our soldiers repulsed an enemy assault near Dolyna and Bohorodychne and forced the occupiers to withdraw.

In the Donetsk direction, the enemy continues to fire on units of the Defense Forces with artillery and jet artillery, mortars and tanks along the line of contact. He focused his main efforts on the Siverodonetsk and Bakhmut areas in order to establish control over the settlements of Siverodonetsk and Mykolayivka. It is fixed on previously captured positions in the districts of Loskutivka and Raiy-Oleksandrivka. It is trying to renew the losses.

The enemy did not take active action in the Kramatorsk direction.

In the Siverodonetsk direction, the enemy fired from tanks, mortars, artillery and jet artillery in the areas of the settlements of Syrotyne, Lysychansk, Siverodonetsk, Voronove and Myrna Dolyna. Units of the 2nd Army Corps, with the support of rosguard units, carried out assault operations in order to establish full control over Siverodonetsk. The fighting continues.

Our soldiers stopped the offensive in the direction of the southern outskirts of Lysychansk, inflicted losses on the enemy and forced them to retreat. To resume the offensive, the occupiers put forward reserves. The Ukrainian defenders also stopped the enemy’s offensive near Borivske.

The enemy conducted reconnaissance by fighting in the area of ​​the settlement of Bila Hora. The offensive continued near the settlement of Raiy-Oleksandrivka, fighting continues.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy fired artillery of various calibers at our positions in the areas of the settlements of Mykolayivka, Berestove, Klynove, Toretsk, Novoluhansk, Pokrovske, Luhanske, and Kodema. The army aircraft of the invaders struck near Klynove.

The occupiers are trying to establish control over the village of Hirske. The forces of assault groups from the 1st Army Corps captured Mykolayivka. The failure of the enemy ended the reconnaissance battle near the village of Vershyna.

The enemy tried unsuccessfully to block the actions of our units in the Klynove area.

In the Novopavlivsk direction, the enemy fired at the positions of our troops from tanks and artillery near Pavlivka, Vuhledar, and Prechystivka. It struck air strikes in the areas of Pavlivka, Vuhledar and Shevchenko. Near Shevchenko, our soldiers gave the occupiers a fierce battle and forced them to retreat.

To identify weaknesses in our defense, the occupiers used sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the areas of the settlements of Vremivka, Novosilky and Neskuchne. Ukrainian soldiers successfully discovered them – the enemy withdrew with heavy losses.

In the Avdiivka, Kurakhiv and Zaporizhzhia directions, the enemy did not wage active hostilities. In order to prevent the transfer of reserves to other areas, it fired at the positions of our troops from tanks, mortars, artillery and jet artillery in the areas of Avdiivka, Pisky, Opytne, Marinka, Hrushove and Novopola.

Our soldiers strongly suppressed the enemy’s attempt to attack Marinka.

In the South Buh direction, the enemy did not take active action. It fired on civilian infrastructure from barrel and jet artillery in the areas of the settlements of Dobryanka, Mykolayivka and Trudolyubivka. It struck an air strike on the positions of our troops near Knyazivka. In order to detect changes in the position of our units and adjust the fire, it conducted aerial reconnaissance of UAVs.

In the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, the enemy’s naval group is trying to maintain a favourable operational regime. Five high-precision weapons carriers are being held ready to launch missile strikes on targets in Ukraine.

Not feeling support among the inhabitants of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, the occupiers are afraid of total resistance from the local population. As a result, they carry out illegal searches, arrests and imprisons.

Our units continue to perform missile and artillery fire tasks in certain areas and beat the occupiers in close combat.

We believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Together to victory!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s a short documentary clip about Swedish Special Operations!

pic.twitter.com/xKGFHk99Kw

— Ukraine Memes for NATO Teens (@LivFaustDieJung) June 22, 2022

Should have read the instructions!

 

 

Your daily Patron!

In Ukraine, there is an unusual dog named Patron. This is a dog that clears mine with the military. I have only one question, in which laboratory was it created? @WizBubba @MummyBr @NFTFiesta @DynosEth @eazymoney_nft @FrenchieNFTeam @DSPC_nft muz by @DeemmPoll and @Salazarsilent pic.twitter.com/LC5nPZKAl9

— Hannah Montana (@tressmontana) June 22, 2022

Ukraine's mine-sniffing dog Patron received the Golden Paw Award

The Kennel Club of Ireland awards this prize to the dogs who acted for the benefit of the human community or at least one person, 🇺🇦State Emergency Service informs https://t.co/saiwyvK5QM pic.twitter.com/JJzDhYrSFh

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 24, 2022

From his TikTok page, Patron will be conducting your quarterly review:

@patron__dsns

Такого президента не було і не буде! 💙💛 #песпатрон #патрон #славаукраїні

♬ оригинальный звук – she.

Let me just say, I’m pretty sure some of you are not going to get that nickel raise.

That’s it for me, I’m going to go rack out. If I continue to improve day on day, we’ll have a proper update tomorrow night.

If not:

Open thread!