Russian troops liberated seven communities in the Sumy Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic over the week of May 31 - June 6 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"During the week, Battlegroup North units liberated the settlements of Alekseyevka, Andreyevka, Vodolagi and Kondratovka in the Sumy Region in offensive operations <…> Battlegroup West units liberated the settlement of Redkodub in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations <…> Over the past week, Battlegroup East units liberated the settlements of Novopol and Fyodorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active operations," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia delivers massive strike on military targets in response to Kiev’s terror attacks

Russian troops delivered a massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military targets in response to Kiev’s terrorist attacks, the ministry reported.

"Over the past night, in retaliation to the Kiev regime’s terrorist attacks, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by air-launched, seaborne and ground-based long-range precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles on design bureaus, enterprises producing and repairing Ukraine’s armament and military hardware, assembly workshops of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, flight personnel training centers, arms and military equipment depots of the Ukrainian army. The goal of the strike was achieved. All the designated targets were struck," the ministry said.

In addition, during the week from May 31, Russian troops delivered six combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, the infrastructure of military airfields, the workshops for the production and the sites for the storage and launch of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, arsenals of the Ukrainian army and also deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 1,565 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,565 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy tanks and 22 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the week, combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery of the Battlegroup North "struck manpower and equipment of a tank brigade, four mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, a jaeger brigade, three air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a special operations center and four territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,565 personnel, six tanks, 22 armored combat vehicles, 62 motor vehicles, two American-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 30 field artillery guns in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three electronic warfare stations and eight ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy tanks and 23 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, three territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,490 personnel, six tanks, 23 armored combat vehicles, including three US-made M113 armored personnel carriers and 79 motor vehicles in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Battlegroup West units destroyed two US-made MLRS rocket launchers, 21 field artillery guns, among them four NATO weapons, four electronic warfare stations and 28 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 1,750 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,750 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 22 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of five mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,750 personnel, 22 armored combat vehicles, 41 motor vehicles and 22 field artillery guns in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Battlegroup South units destroyed nine electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and 17 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 3,435 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 3,435 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 39 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units improved their forward positions and inflicted losses on formations of six mechanized brigades, two air assault brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades, the Azov special operations brigade [outlawed as a terrorist group in Russia], two territorial defense brigades and three National Guard brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,435 personnel and 39 armored combat vehicles, including a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and five M113 armored personnel carriers of US manufacture in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Battlegroup Center units destroyed 44 motor vehicles and 29 field artillery guns of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 1,240 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 1,240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 21 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of four mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an air assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,240 personnel, 21 armored combat vehicles, 34 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns and 13 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Battlegroup East units destroyed six ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts over 565 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 565 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy multiple rocket launchers in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, three coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian army and three territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 565 personnel, 57 motor vehicles, two Grad multiple rocket launchers and 17 field artillery guns in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Battlegroup Dnepr units destroyed 28 electronic surveillance, electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and 10 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russian air defenses down three Neptune, two Storm Shadow missiles, 1,390 UAVs over week

Russian air defense forces shot down three Neptune long-range and two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and 1,390 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down three Neptune long-range missiles, two British-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles, three rockets of the Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket system, 18 JDAM guided aerial bombs and eight rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of US manufacture, and also 1,390 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, including 509 UAVs outside the special military operation zone," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 663 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 61,813 unmanned aerial vehicles, 610 surface-to-air missile systems, 23,790 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,570 multiple rocket launchers, 25,782 field artillery guns and mortars and 36,533 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

The US won’t provide air cover to Europe once Ukraine conflict is over 

This conclusion was made by several European countries following consultations with representatives of the current US administration, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. 

London and Paris still hope that the US will provide intelligence on the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border and "hope that Trump will intervene if British and French forces become targets for Russian armed forces in Ukraine," the report added. 

Bloomberg claims that the authorities of France and the UK have "finished planning where their forces could be deployed and how they would operate." At the same time, European officials consider a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis "increasingly unlikely."

Russia, for its part, has repeatedly stressed that the presence of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil poses a threat to Russia, and Moscow won’t accept this under any circumstances.

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