Ukraine Launches Fierce Counteroffensive

Ukrainian forces have launched multiple attacks and gained ground in several places along its vast front line with Russia, with some success. The fighting has been bloody, with Ukrainian troops having to force their way through extensive and well-prepared Russian defensive lines and minefields while being shelled by carefully placed Russian artillery batteries. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on June 6 has been a significant setback for Ukraine, affecting both the humanitarian and economic toll, and the restoration of the water supply was a strategic Russian war aim. The shape of the downstream part of the Dnipro river has altered significantly, while floodwater currents complicate any potential crossings by Ukrainian forces, making them less likely in the near future.