Victory Chronicles-DAY 847

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that ahead of the upcoming Summit in Washington, D.C., the member countries are engaged in discussions and addressing several matters about Ukraine.

Stoltenberg highlighted NATO’s commitment to providing Ukraine with training and security sector assistance, anticipating further announcements on increased military support. He is confident that the Allies are actively deliberating Ukraine’s potential membership, with a positive decision expected at the upcoming Summit. Stoltenberg believes that stronger and more sustained NATO support will hasten the resolution of the conflict. Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed that the July NATO Summit should pave the way for Ukraine’s eventual membership in the Alliance.

The occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by Russian forces has inflicted over 210 billion hryvnias ($5.2 billion) in losses on Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency. Since Russian troops took control in March 2022, the plant has been inoperative, causing substantial economic impact. In just the first week of the occupation, Energoatom suffered losses of 35 billion hryvnias ($862 million), with ongoing monthly losses of about 6 billion hryvnias ($148 million). Additionally, the occupation has heightened nuclear safety concerns, with accusations from Ukraine that Russia is using the facility to launch drone attacks, thus significantly escalating security risks. The International Atomic Energy Agency is actively monitoring these developments.

Russian troops attacked a Kherson hospital with a Grad multiple rocket launcher, causing damage to the building and two ambulances. The attack was part of the ongoing shelling of medical facilities in the Kherson Oblast by Russian forces. Luckily, there were no casualties among the hospital staff and patients. The Kherson Oblast Military Administration (RMA) reported the incident and shared photos showing the debris from the rocket fired by Russian troops. The situation highlights the continued aggression and disregard for civilian facilities by Russian forces in the Oblast.

The National Police of Ukraine has released a video of the fighters of the Luty (Rage) unit repelling Russian attacks. “The other day, the enemy, in the best traditions of Soviet “generals”, sent a large number of manpower and equipment to “meat assault” the city. However, the fighters of the National Police “Rage” together with the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made titanic efforts and destroyed all the occupiers’ hopes for success!” the National Police said in a statement.

Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil depots in Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Krai overnight on June 17 to 18, using domestically produced Neptune missiles against a ground target in Russia for the second time.

Sources in the Ukrainian Navy told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on June 18 that Ukrainian forces used Neptune anti-ship missiles, presumably modified to strike ground targets, to strike an oil terminal of the Yugneftekhimtransit LLC in the port town of Chushka, Krasnodar Krai overnight.

Russian opposition outlet Astra reported locals witnessed explosions near Chushka overnight and that a fire damaged the pipeline and areas with engineering or technical equipment. Russian authorities did not confirm the strike, but the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on June 18 that Russian forces intercepted a Ukrainian Neptune missile in an unspecified area on June 17.

Sources in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) told Ukrainian media outlets that Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes against the Azovskaya and Azovnaftoprodukt oil terminals in Azov, Rostov Oblast, and geolocated footage shows that the resulting fire burned overnight on June 17 to 18 and well into the day on June 18. Rostov Oblast authorities reported that the strikes set the oil tanks on fire. The SBU sources stated that these depots combined have 22 fuel tanks, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Crimean service reported that up to 60 tons of petroleum products pass through these depots per month and that the storage tanks can hold up to 30 thousand cubic meters of petroleum products simultaneously.

Junior Sergeant Vasyl Naida, 48, known by the call sign Boomer, passed away in the hospital on November 28, 2023. On August 15, he was critically wounded by artillery fire while evacuating wounded comrades near the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. He suffered a head injury, was in a coma, and had numerous shrapnel wounds. Vasyl was moved between hospitals as his condition fluctuated, and doctors tirelessly fought for his life until the end.

Vasyl Dmytrovych was born in Hlyboka, Chernivtsi Oblast, where he attended gymnasium No. 1 and later studied at the Chernivtsi Construction College. He served in the airborne assault troops and worked as a builder with his own crew in civilian life. A passionate football player, he once played for the Hlyboka team. In 2008, he moved to Italy with his family, where he lived and worked until the full-scale invasion began.

He returned to Ukraine on February 26, 2022, just days after the war started, despite his wife’s pleas to stay. He felt compelled to defend his country, stating that if he did not return, younger men like their son would have to. On March 2, 2022, Vasyl volunteered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, initially serving in the 22nd Infantry Battalion (military unit A 7106). He fought in Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts and was a squad leader. On May 8, 2022, he was injured for the first time in Prudyanka, Kharkiv Oblast, and despite a lingering injury, insisted on returning to the front, stating, “I can’t, my guys are there.” After training in Poland, he joined the 116th Separate Mechanized Brigade as a mortar team commander, defending the Zaporizhzhia direction.

Vasyl was awarded the “Combatant” and received a certificate of merit for his dedicated service and exemplary military discipline. His wife Oksana remembers him with these words: “The pain of loss will never fade… for me he is still at war… He is alive, just as cheerful, cheerful, sensitive, fair and honest, for which he was respected by his comrades and friends. He is our Hero! The best of the best, brave and courageous, who did not stop, did not give up in the face of any test of fate, a loyal son of Ukraine who did not hesitate to exchange a peaceful, quiet life abroad for damp trenches in order to defend our native Ukraine. The bright memory of him will always live in our hearts…”. Vasyl was laid to rest in his hometown and is survived by his wife and son.

*Vasyl’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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