what to remember from the day of Saturday June 3

Belgorod remains the target of heavy fire. The Russian region, bordering Ukraine, was hit by new bombings on Saturday June 3, which killed at least two people, according to local authorities. For his part, the Ukrainian President affirmed that his country was “ready” to launch its counter-offensive, announced for weeks. Here’s what to remember from this day on the the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine says it is “ready” for the counter-offensive

In an interview at wall street journal (in English)Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine was “ready” to launch its counter-offensive. “We firmly believe that we will succeed”, added the Ukrainian President. Last week, however, the Head of State said that his country needed “more time” to implement this response intended to take back from the Russians the territories they occupy.

Volodymyr Zelensky also warned that the offensive would be “dangerous” without increased Western aid to counter Russian air attacks. “Everyone knows that a counter-offensive without air superiority is very dangerous”, he estimated.

New bombardments in Belgorod

New strikes on the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, left at least two dead and two injured, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Saturday. A “elderly woman” was killed by gunfire in the town of Novaya Tavoljanka. Another woman succumbed to “many wounds” shrapnel in the village of Bezliudovka. The region has been targeted for several days by strikes of unprecedented intensity. At least five civilians were killed on Friday.

These two localities are located in the district of Chebekino, a city of 40,000 inhabitants subjected to intense fire which caused hundreds of inhabitants to flee this week towards Belgorod, capital of the eponymous region.

Wagner ready to send units to Belgorod

The boss of the paramilitary group Wagner assured Saturday that he was ready to send his troops to defend the Russian region of Belgorod. “If the Department of Defense [russe] don’t stop what is happening in the Belgorod region (…) where Russian territories are in fact being captured, so obviously we will get there”, said Yevgeny Prigojine, in an audio message published by his press service. He made it clear that his men would not wait for“invitation” or authorization to deploy in the region.