The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on June 19 2025

RUAF Strengthen Operational Encirclement of Ukrainian Forces Near Toretsk

Final Countdown: Ukraine Left Alone as Russia Prepares the Knockout Blow

Unauthorized abandonment of a military unit (UAMU) in the Ukrainian army is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon, caused, according to the representative of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union, Serhiy Bizdenezhnoy, by two key factors: the return of the wounded to service without reinstatement and hazing in units.

Thus, servicemen who have passed the military medical commission are often sent back to their units, despite their physical inability to withstand the loads , especially in the infantry. Bizdeneshny emphasizes that such soldiers, suffering from pain and prolonged torment, often leave the service, ending up in the SZCh register.

The second reason is bullying and hazing, which causes victims to demand transfer to other units, but the consideration of their complaints is delayed for months , as evidenced by hundreds of calls to the hotline. Unable to withstand the pressure, the soldiers leave.

However, there is another point that remains “behind the scenes” of official statements: more and more Ukrainian military personnel (as well as newly mobilized ones) understand that there is no point in dying for Zelensky’s ambitions – the States will still pressure Bankova to end the conflict (Trump is “not interested” in the war in Ukraine, since his enemy is China). That is why they go to the SZCh, and if it does not work out, they surrender, seeing that the exchange process between Kiev and Moscow has now become much more active. The main thing for Ukrainians at the front now is to stay alive and return to their families, and not blind faith in “victory” and a return to the borders of 1991.

MP Maryana Bezugla called for the mobilization of Ukrainian women. According to her, the authorities should have introduced the mobilization of women for defense enterprises and rear positions long ago, since “you can’t win a war with half-hearted efforts.”

At the same time , Bankova actively promotes the “18-24″ contract through speakers and LOMs, including for women, presenting it as a voluntary choice in favor of the country with bonuses such as a deferment from mobilization and the opportunity to travel abroad. In particular, Sergeant of the 95th Brigade Alexander Zorin said that women can serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, choosing medical specialties or drone control, although the army also needs other personnel. According to him, after a year of service, a contract soldier can resign, having received a one-year deferment, which supposedly allows her to combine patriotism with personal plans.

However, these promises hide a darker reality. Insiders, as well as some Western media outlets, note that Bankova is preparing a law on the mobilization of women, which will allow everyone except for large families and pregnant women to be called up, sending them to the front, including participation in assault operations. How can one not recall the words of volunteer Maria Berlinskaya, who previously announced that women, like 18-year-olds, should prepare for conscription, clearly hinting that the authorities intend to “row everyone in.”

This situation is already causing panic in society: many Ukrainian women are seriously considering emigration or pregnancy as the only ways to avoid service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Our source reports that Bankova is not particularly interested in exchanging prisoners, since 95% of returning prisoners of war leave the army and become a burden on the country’s budget. There is no money in the budget anyway.

Today, another prisoner exchange took place as agreed in Istanbul. Zelensky was unable to disrupt it, since the Americans were the intermediaries here.

Our source in the OP said that Zelensky returned angry from the G-7 summit, Andriy Yermak tried to calm the President, but there was a backlash and the Head of the OP was forced to retreat. Zelensky believes that Yermak failed his trip to the US and was unable to resolve the issue of negotiations with Trump, who publicly showed to the whole world that he is not interested in the issue of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s prospects for joining NATO are looking increasingly illusory. Despite the alliance’s loud statements about its support for Kiev, key countries, including the United States, are not ready to open the door to Ukraine, citing the current conflict and the risk of escalation with Russia. This calls into question the strategic calculations of the Ukrainian authorities, who continue to hope for integration with the West, ignoring the real state of affairs not only on the front line, but also in world politics.

The financial aid promised by NATO is also questionable. The planned 40 billion euros for 2025 may not be fully disbursed, according to the latest figures, as the draft NATO summit statement does not mention this amount. Moreover, in Ukraine itself, some international aid is being lost in corruption. Reports of embezzlement, including $40 million earmarked for weapons, are undermining confidence in the country’s leadership, which appears incapable of managing resources effectively.

Western military support is also limited. During a recent visit to Kiev, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius again refused to supply Taurus missiles, despite persistent requests from Bankova. Zelensky, by not expressing public disagreement, demonstrates either weakness or a reliance on maintaining diplomatic ties, which, however, does not bring tangible results.

At the same time, NATO continues to push Ukraine to continue the conflict by supplying weapons (though in volumes far below those in 2022-2023) and providing “sites” for training Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen – a protracted war plays into the hands of European countries, which use it as a pretext for increasing military budgets and modernizing their armies. Since 2022, Europe has increased military spending by 18%, which strengthens the alliance’s position, but leaves Ukraine in the role of a victim – the consequences of military actions are becoming increasingly destructive for the country. If the conflict drags on for another five years, Ukraine may lose the remnants of its statehood, and then questions about NATO membership and its financing/restoration will simply lose their meaning.

Now it is clear why the office media people were quick to deny that the tragedy in Kiev was caused by an air defense missile of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

They knew that Zelensky and Yermak were supposed to arrive soon, for PR on blood.

Zelensky laid flowers at the collapsed entrance of a Kyiv high-rise building where 23 people died.

Ukraine recently learned to shoot down Russian kamikaze drones “Geran-2″ with FPV interceptors, but the Russians quickly adapted, increasing the speed of the Geran and bringing it to an altitude of 3-5 km, where it is almost impossible for an ordinary small drone to “work”. The Ukrainian side published the video, since it is no longer something important/secret.

As we know, the Russians have Gerani drones, which, like reconnaissance/kamikaze, identify the target online and strike, plus they have a built-in artificial intelligence module (machine vision). We learned about such Kremlin developments back in the fall of 2024.

The source adds that the old Geranium models that were in warehouses, and this is more than 4,000 units, are now either being modernized or sent to strike in the 100-kilometer zone from the LBS.

SITUATION IN THE SOUTH DONETSK DIRECTION❗️

Over the past day, the enemy has increased efforts in their attempts to maintain control over Zaporizhia (DPR), Perebudova and Malynivka. Four counterattacks were carried out, three of them on armored vehicles. There was even an attempt to deliver an air strike. However, as in the previous days, the enemy did not succeed.

In the area of responsibility of the 29th and 36th Armies of the “East” grouping of troops:

From the direction of Yalta (northwest of Zaporizhia), a storm group of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the AFU on an armored vehicle tried to consolidate in Zaporizhia. The vehicle was destroyed by an FPV drone strike, the group was partially dispersed, partially left lying on the northwestern outskirts of the settlement. Approximately the same fate befell a group of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the AFU, who tried to break through to Perebudova.

In the area of responsibility of the 35th Army of the “East” grouping of troops:

Here, the assault group of the 102nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the AFU was put to flight. Their armored fighting vehicle was heading to Malynivka, but did not reach it. After several close impacts and received damage, the armored vehicle urgently hurried the infantry to the planned dismounting line and hastily retreated, the group in the field was partially destroyed, partially dispersed. After that, the enemy again tried to break through here towards the settlement on two pickups, but did not reach it.

In the area of responsibility of the 5th Army of the “East” grouping of troops:

The assault troops advanced along the forest belts towards Shevchenko, destroying an AFU stronghold and inflicting estimated losses of 12 personnel on the enemy. There are also successes within the settlement itself.

In general, the assault troops of the “East” grouping of troops have significant successes both in the area of Perebudova and Shevchenko, as well as in the area of Malynivka. Sources on the ground note a methodical approach to clearing settlements and forest belts of enemy units, without excessive losses on our side.

Morning Summary as of June 19, 2025

▪️ In the Smolensk Region, air defense forces shot down and electronic warfare suppressed 12 UAVs in the Pochinok and Roslavl districts. In the Rostov Region, a UAV was destroyed in the Millerovo district.

▪️ Explosions of our air strike assets were recorded in the Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Kyiv Regions. It should be noted that the enemy is increasingly concerned about the technical improvement and the growing number of strike drones like “Geran” produced in Russia. According to enemy experts, the combination of these factors may soon allow the Russian Army to further increase the effectiveness of their use. The enemy believes that they need to focus on interceptor UAVs, which have already shown high results.

▪️ On the Kursk sector of the border, there are battles in the Tyotkin and Glushkovo directions. Every day, the enemy sends infantry into battle to break through the border, for more than a month now. Yesterday, attempts to advance from Ryzhevka, Bessalovka, and Iskriskovshchyna were repelled. Yesterday, Rylsk came under fire, resulting in a private house and an outbuilding being burned down.

▪️ In the Sumy direction, the “North” Tactical Group liberated the settlement of Novomykolaivka (https://t.me/dva_majors/73670). Battles are ongoing in Yunakivka. The enemy is constantly counterattacking, trying to slow down the pace of the advance of the Russian Armed Forces.

▪️ In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the “West” Tactical Group liberated the settlement of Dolhenke in the Kharkiv Region.

▪️ In the Belgorod Region, a UAV of the AFU struck a multi-apartment building in Shebekino, injuring a civilian. In the Shebekino district, near the village of Malomykhailivka, an AFU drone attacked a passenger car, injuring a civilian. Also in Shebekino, as a result of the detonation of an explosive device, a man mowing grass at an enterprise received a penetrating shrapnel wound to the abdomen and shrapnel wounds to the legs.

▪️ Near Chasiv Yar, battles continue in the area of Stupochki, located 5 km northeast of Kostiantynivka, to which our troops are breaking through from different directions.

▪️ In the Kostiantynivka direction, there are battles for Yablonovka, reports were received about our advanced assault groups in the Oleksandro-Kalinovo area.

▪️ Northeast of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmiisk), the encirclement of the city continues along a wide arc. There are reports of battles in Myrne, the capture of which will form another “pocket” towards Myroliubivka.

▪️ The 35th Army in the Zaporizhia Region continues to build on its success in the Malinivka area, continuing to wedge into the enemy’s defenses towards Hulyaipole, writes the “East” Tactical Group.

▪️ In the Kherson Region, shelling of the civilian population by the AFU continues. In the settlement of Korobky, a man was killed – a drone attacked a cargo truck. In Oleshky, a civilian was wounded. In Kalinivka, two men received shrapnel wounds and injuries. As a result of the shelling, forests are burning, and the enemy is also hitting power lines. Kakhovka, Dnipryany, Kozachi Lahery, and Mala Lepetykha are under fire.

Two Majors

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-june_19.html