Key facts
- Ukrainian troops raised a flag on the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast.
- Russian forces retreated from some positions on the spit due to heavy fire.
- Fighting for control of the Kinburn Spit is ongoing.
- The commander of Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment was suspended amid an investigation into alleged abuse.
- Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale attack on Russian-occupied Crimea, targeting energy and oil infrastructure.
- Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured at least 70 others.
- Russian drones damaged fuel stations and gas production facilities operated by Naftogaz.
Ukrainian troops have raised a national flag on the Kinburn Spit, a narrow sandy peninsula in southern Ukraine, which has been contested since Russia's full-scale invasion in March 2022. The move comes as Russian forces reportedly retreated from some positions under heavy fire, though fighting for full control of the spit is ongoing. The Kinburn Spit holds strategic importance, allowing Russia to influence access to parts of the Black Sea and shipping routes from the ports of Kherson and Mykolaiv.
In parallel, Ukrainian forces conducted a large-scale overnight attack on Russian-occupied Crimea, striking energy and oil infrastructure, including power plants and oil depots, amid ongoing power outages on the peninsula. Russian-appointed officials claimed two people were killed and two injured in the strikes.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day resulted in at least seven deaths and 70 injuries. Russian drones targeted and damaged multiple fuel stations and gas production facilities operated by the state-owned company Naftogaz in several regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava oblasts. The Sumy Oblast Governor reported 13 attacks on gas stations in his region in June alone, aimed at disrupting logistics and fuel supply.
Separately, the commander of Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Yurii Harkavyi, has been suspended pending an investigation into alleged violations of soldiers' rights. The unit, known as Skelia, has reportedly suffered high battlefield losses and faced scrutiny over allegations of abuse and noncombat deaths among recruits.