The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to unfold with significant developments on Day 846, Thursday, June 20, 2024. The situation remains tense as fighting intensifies in various regions, diplomatic efforts continue, and new military allegations emerge. Russian drone attacks in western Ukraine have caused casualties and damages, while Ukrainian forces report heightened assaults in the east. In the realm of diplomacy, Russian President Vladimir Putin solidifies ties with North Korea and Vietnam, garnering international reactions. Moreover, geopolitical tensions escalate with accusations of North Korean involvement in aiding Russia militarily. These events underscore the ongoing complexities and humanitarian concerns in one of Europe's most significant conflicts since the Cold War.

Here is the situation on Thursday, June 20, 2024.

In Ukraine’s western Lviv region, at least two people were injured and residential buildings were damaged due to a series of Russian drone attacks aimed at energy infrastructure across six regions. The Ukrainian air force reported that it successfully intercepted and destroyed 19 out of 21 drones launched by Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military stated that Russian forces had intensified their attacks near Toretsk in the eastern Donetsk region. The Russians launched five simultaneous assault operations targeting surrounding towns and villages. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed to have strengthened its positions around Toretsk, a town formerly home to about 32,000 people.

In southern Russia, a fire ignited by a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil terminal persisted into a second day despite ongoing firefighting efforts, according to Rostov regional governor Vasily Golubev.

Ukraine’s deputy prosecutor general, Viktoriia Litvinova, announced the creation of a national registry to document cases of sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by Russian forces. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the registry has recorded 303 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, involving 191 women and 112 men.

Politics and Diplomacy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un finalized a new comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during Putin’s first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years. Putin expressed gratitude to Kim for his steadfast support in Ukraine, while Kim pledged “full support and solidarity” for Russia’s invasion.

Following his visit to North Korea, Putin traveled to Vietnam, where he praised Hanoi for supporting “a pragmatic way to solve the crisis” in Ukraine in an opinion piece released during his visit. Vietnam has refrained from condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine, instead focusing on bolstering alliances with the United States, its largest export market, and the European Union.

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella expressed his support for Ukraine’s right to self-defense against Russia. However, Bardella stated that if elected prime minister in upcoming polls, he would not authorize the provision of missiles to Kyiv for striking Russian territory. He affirmed that France would uphold its commitments to the NATO military alliance under his leadership.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced the arrest of a Kharkiv resident allegedly recruited by Russian agents through an online dating platform. The individual is accused of attempting to provide Moscow with sensitive information about Ukrainian military facilities and equipment, facing a potential sentence of up to eight years in prison if convicted. Separately, the SBU disclosed that another man arrested last year on suspicion of being a Russian Federal Security Service agent had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for assisting Russia in identifying targets in the southern Odesa region.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to the Ukrainian president, accused North Korea of actively cooperating with Russia militarily and called for greater international isolation of both countries. Podolyak asserted that North Korea is deliberately aiding in the mass killing of Ukrainians by providing resources. United Nations sanctions monitors, in their final report before Russia blocked the renewal of their mandate, confirmed the discovery of North Korean missile fragments in Kharkiv.

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