June 20, 2023 – Russia-Ukraine news

Within the last day, the Ukrainian military reported 35 clashes with Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, according to an earlier update from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Russia continues to focus on the areas of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in the Donetsk region, the update said.

Here’s what else you should know to get up to speed:

On the ground. Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy minister of defense, said Ukrainian forces “are gnawing our way meter by meter” to advance, also noting that the main strike of the counteroffensive “is still ahead.” Maliar said in an interview Tuesday with Ukrainian media that Ukraine’s offensive is ongoing in several directions in the south. Meanwhile, she claimed that Russia’s main offensive is in the east. 

Meetings. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. Blinken briefed Kuleba about his meetings in Beijing and talks with Chinese officials about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Matt Miller, State Department spokesperson.

Aid and recovery. The United Kingdom is set to outline a landmark financial support package for Ukraine this week, according to 10 Downing Street. Ukrainian officials and the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine on Tuesday also discussed the establishment of a Community Recovery Fund, a joint approach to the recovery of Ukraine at the community level. 

Dam collapse update. At least 21 people are dead and 28 others were injured following the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse earlier this month in the Kherson region, according to Minister Ihor Klymenko of Ukraine’s Internal Affairs.

Returned prisoners. Three out of 11 soldiers who were held as prisoners of war (POWs) by Russia and who were relocated to Hungary earlier this month, have now returned to Ukraine, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry.