**Russian Troops Not in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian Military Says**
Contrary to claims made by the New York Times (NYT), Russian troops have not entered Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces said on June 13. Victor Tregubov, who spoke with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, stated that there is no confirmed information about Russian troops crossing the administrative boundary into the region.
**Earlier Claims Refuted**
The NYT had earlier cited Ukrainian military sources claiming that Russian troops crossed the administrative boundary into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for the first time since the war began. A map by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also showed Russian forces advancing in the region, allegedly securing a foothold. However, Tregubov and Andrii Zadubiny, press officer of the Khortytsia forces, rejected these claims.
**Situation Remains Unchanged**
Tregubov noted that the situation remains unchanged as of June 13, with no information suggesting Russian forces have crossed the administrative border. He also mentioned that updated intelligence may be available later in the day.
**Ukraine Under Threat**
To date, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has not seen confirmed Russian ground incursions, though it has remained under constant threat from missile and drone attacks. In late April, Ukrainian authorities began mandatory evacuations of families with children from four front-line villages located just kilometers from Russian positions.
**International Reaction**
The latest developments come amid growing pressure on Ukrainian defenses across multiple fronts and continued failure of U.S.-mediated negotiations to produce a ceasefire agreement. Moldovan President Maia Sandu warned that Russia has been using the residents of Transnistria to provoke an even greater crisis at any moment.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that according to their intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, indicating plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan.
**Other Developments**
Iran launched over 100 drones against Israel, all of which were intercepted outside of Israeli airspace. Moscow condemned the attack as an “unprovoked aggression,” saying it had violated the U.N. Charter. Ukraine expressed concern over the security situation in the Middle East but stressed that Tehran remains a “source of problems” in the region.
Ukraine has received another 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in macro-financial assistance from the European Union as part of a G7 loan. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia targeted the country with 55 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles launched from Russian territory.
**NATO Considering Ballistic Missile Shield**
For the first time, member states of NATO are reportedly considering combining the alliance’s ballistic missile shield with other integrated missile defense assets. The number of casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day is estimated to be around 1,220.
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