Since the beginning of June 17, Ukrainian military officials reported 207 combat engagements across various fronts in eastern Ukraine. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted significant activity from Russian forces, including airstrikes and drone assaults.
According to the report, Russian forces executed 54 airstrikes, deploying 173 guided bombs. Additionally, they utilized 6,035 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,088 shelling incidents targeting both civilian areas and Ukrainian military positions.
The most intense fighting occurred in two primary regions: Pokrovsk in Donetsk and Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia. In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops launched 24 attacks, attempting to advance near several settlements, including Novooleksiivka, Kotlyne, and Udaichne. Ongoing clashes were reported in the vicinity of Bilitske and Novyi Donbas.
In the Huliaipole area, 23 attacks were recorded, particularly around the towns of Dobropillia and Huliaipole itself. Two combat engagements continue in this region as well.
Further combat activity was noted in other areas of Donetsk. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 14 attempts by Russian troops to advance near Derylove and Novomykhailivka. The Sloviansk front saw 11 repelled attempts towards Rai-Oleksandrivka and Kryva Luka.
Additionally, Ukrainian defenders thwarted 15 assaults in the Kostiantynivka direction, with ongoing confrontations near Kostiantynivka and Illynivka.
Fighting also persisted in the South Slobozhanskyi, Kupiansk, Oleksandrivsk, and Orikhiv directions.
Data from the DeepState project indicates that May marked the first month since autumn 2023 in which Russian forces experienced a net loss of occupied territory, losing more ground than they gained. This trend was corroborated by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which reported that over six months of intensive assaults, Russian troops managed to capture just over 40 square kilometers.
As the situation evolves, reports from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty highlight a significant escalation in Kostiantynivka during June. Maps from DeepState show that since mid-May, Russian forces have approached the city closely, with soldiers increasingly observed in various districts. A military analyst from the Information Resistance group expressed concerns about the potential loss of Kostiantynivka in the coming months.
Ukrainian military officials reported extensive combat in eastern Ukraine on June 17, with Russian forces launching numerous attacks. Despite recent gains by Ukrainian forces, concerns grow over the situation in Kostiantynivka as Russian troops advance closer to the city.