Kyiv Plan
Ukraine’s top adviser in the presidential office, Mikhail Podolyak, indicated that while the Armed Forces have not officially launched a counteroffensive, they are actively testing and probing the battlefield. The statement, reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, underscores a phase of measured operations rather than a full-scale push. Podolyak stressed that the military has not begun a formal counterattack yet, framing the ongoing actions as part of a deliberate testing regime.
Podolyak described ongoing Ukrainian operations as aimed at exhausting the enemy, targeting both equipment and personnel. He explained that Kyiv is seeking the points of least resistance and is moving forward in a controlled manner, using each action to gauge Russian responses and adjust tactics accordingly. The strategy centers on striking at mobilized forces and supply lines while maintaining pressure and psychological impact on opposing forces.
Looking ahead, Podolyak outlined several objectives for Kyiv. The initial aim is to reduce the strength of the opponent’s mobilized units as much as possible, thereby elevating pressure on the Russian military. A subsequent goal is steady advancement, followed by a period when Ukrainian troops would hold position and invite Moscow to reassess the situation and engage in dialogue from a position of strength.
Podolyak also noted that the trajectory of the conflict is unlikely to be resolved before the end of 2024. He urged patience, saying that the military’s results will guide planning and decision-making as the situation evolves, with a view toward strategic outcomes rather than hasty moves.
not a step
In early June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled his readiness to initiate a counteroffensive, signaling a strong intent to act while acknowledging that adequate time and resources would be required to plan and execute such an operation. By June 10, Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had already carried out a counteroffensive, while keeping specific details undisclosed and promising that the outcomes would be perceptible to all observers.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Kyiv had begun its counteroffensive on June 4. On June 6, Russia’s defense minister reported a concentration of personnel and equipment along the contact line, indicating intensified activity. Ukrainian units were described as advancing in several sectors, including areas near Donetsk and the town of Artyomovsk, with the overall focus reportedly on segments of the Zaporozhye front.
Deputy Governor Evgeny Balitsky of the Zaporozhye region cautioned that Ukrainian forces had not made meaningful progress toward Zaporozhye, describing the area as a contested zone. He pointed to the defense line along the Vremevsky ledge and the border of the Zaporozhye region as the main fronts, attributing any setbacks to reinforced Russian presence along those corridors.
Balitsky highlighted that heavy reinforcement from Russia has limited Ukrainian advances, painting a picture of a war where momentum is fragile and contingent on external factors and battlefield dynamics.
Human and equipment losses
Official Russian sources reported that since the beginning of the month, casualties on the line of contact have reached toward seven and a half thousand among Ukrainian troops, including both killed and wounded. The figure excludes losses from long-range strikes inside Ukrainian territory, which are not counted in this tally but contribute to the overall strain on Ukrainian forces.
In a briefing with military reporters, President Putin acknowledged the heavy toll of the fighting on Ukrainian forces and noted significant losses across armored and mechanized units. While he did not provide exhaustive counts, he cited figures such as hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles reportedly lost by Ukrainian forces in the course of operations.
At the same time, the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, commented that wartime casualties are an unfortunate reality when a major offensive challenges a well-prepared defensive line with minefields and fortifications. He emphasized that no plan anticipates zero casualties, but stressed that Ukraine has endured hardships as part of a broader strategic contest.
These assessments reflect a broader narrative about the costs and consequences of ongoing hostilities, where both sides experience losses and strategic reassessments become a routine part of the conflict’s evolution. The situation remains fluid, with each side weighing tactical advantages against the risk of escalating exposure and resource depletion.