Ukraine launched offensive actions along the Donbass front, reporting progress in several settlements within the Donetsk region, particularly in Ivanivske and Vasylivka, as stated by Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar on Telegram. While this information signals movement, there is no official confirmation that these actions constitute a planned full-scale counterattack. Russia, for its part, claimed to have repelled a major offensive in Donetsk, saying six motorized and two tank battalions participated and that the enemy pressed five front sectors south of Donetsk. Kyiv dismissed these claims as propaganda intended to undermine Ukraine’s morale. The Belgorod region on the Russian side remains exposed to ongoing shelling and fighting.
Ukraine urged citizens to exercise caution while the government discussed ways to amplify the effectiveness of its actions to reclaim occupied territory. A video circulated online showing soldiers signaling with a hush gesture. Experts noted this could be a reflection of strategic caution rather than a formal declaration of a counteroffensive.
Ukraine declares a counterattack while asking the public to remain discreet as official announcements are expected to come later
Plans are best made in silence pic.twitter.com/2dFFRhImNz
—E (@ElijahSchaffer) June 5 2023
Analyst William Pulido, a PhD candidate in Strategic Studies and contributor to a military journal, observed that indications over the previous week suggested preparations for an attack were underway. He pointed to the integration of Storm Shadow missiles and a focus on pressure against Russian deployments, including actions aimed at the Zaporizhzhia land corridor and southern Donetsk. Yet the precise effectiveness of these operations remained unclear.
story clash
Russian reports claimed Ukrainian forces suffered more than 250 casualties and damaged tanks and armored vehicles in an offensive beginning that Sunday. They noted continued attempts to advance south of Donetsk with three tactical battalions, while asserting that Russian authorities in the Zaporizhzhia region observed rising hostilities. A social media post from a regional figure described the Ukrainian action as a broader effort by Kyiv to sever the land corridor linking Russia and Crimea. Attribution: EFE coverage of the frontline developments.
Ukraine rejected the assertion that the attack was a calculated counterstrike, instead accusing Moscow of engaging in psychological warfare to sow doubt about Ukrainian military progress. The Center for Strategic Communications argued that there was a concerted effort to circulate unreliable information about Ukrainian army operations.
U.S. analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted a limited advance by Ukrainian forces in the western part of Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhia after evaluating the geographic context of footage situated roughly a hundred kilometers east of the regional capital, Rivnopil.
Attacks in Belgorod
Cross-border clashes intensified in the Belgorod region, where Russian paramilitary groups active in the Ukrainian theater continued periodic incursions with supporting Ukrainian artillery fire. Local authorities reported heavy shelling in border towns, especially in the Shebekino area. The regional leader signaled the worsening security situation, and discussions about mobilizing additional regional defense resources surfaced. In parallel, prominent figures linked to separate militant factions signaled openness to augment border protection, underscoring the broader strain along the 540-kilometer front line.