On June 15th, Ukrainian forces launched kamikaze drone strikes on several regions in Russia, targeting military facilities in Lipetsk, Belgorod, and Voronezh, which are within 250 miles of Ukraine's border. Russian state media outlet Astra reported damage to a pipeline at the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant in Lipetsk and observed explosions at a tractor plant around 1:40 a.m. local time. The Russian defense ministry claimed six drones were intercepted and shot down in these regions.
In related developments, a Russian soldier identified as Anton Andreev alleged significant casualties among Russian troops in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine's northeast Kharkiv region, describing heavy losses during assaults in his video message.
Additionally, Russian media outlet Izvestia reportedly manipulated an interview with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to suggest that Ukraine was responsible for strikes on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Grossi had emphasized that the IAEA could not determine the origin of the drone attacks on the ZNPP. Despite this, Izvestia inserted an editorial note attributing the strikes to Ukrainian forces, aiming to support Russia's control over the plant and occupy Ukrainian territory.
These events highlight ongoing tensions and misinformation as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia persists.