1 Instute for the Study of War and AEI’s Crical Threats Project 2023
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 1, 2023
Riley Bailey, Kateryna Stepanenko, Nicole Wolkov, Layne Philipson, George Barros,
and Fredrick W. Kagan
June 1, 2023, 5:30pm ET
Click here to see ISW’s interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This map is
updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.
Click here to access ISW’s archive of interactive time-lapse maps of the Russian
invasion of Ukraine. These maps complement the static control-of-terrain map that
ISW produces daily by showing a dynamic frontline. ISW will update this time-lapse
map archive monthly.
Note: The data cutoff for this product was 1:30pm ET on June 1. ISW will cover
subsequent reports in the June 2 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment.
Russian forces conducted another series of missile strikes on Ukraine overnight on
May 31 to June 1 and during the day on June 1. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that
Russian forces launched 10 Iskander ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv City from Bryansk Oblast, which
borders Ukraine, in the morning on June 1, and that Ukrainian air defense destroyed all 10
missiles.[1] The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russian forces launched two S-300
missiles targeting critical infrastructure in Kharkiv City during the day on June 1.[2] Ukrainian Air
Force Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat stated that Ukraine cannot strike launch points of Russian
Iskander missiles in Russia as Ukraine is under obligations not to strike Russian territory with
Western-provided weapons.[3] ISW has previously assessed that Russian forces began a new limited
air campaign in recent months to degrade Ukrainian counteroffensive capabilities, but that the
Russian prioritization of Kyiv is likely further limiting the campaign’s ability to meaningfully
constrain potential Ukrainian counteroffensive actions.[4]
Elements of the all-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and
Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) reportedly conducted another raid into Belgorod
Oblast on June 1. Geolocated footage published on June 1 shows alleged LSR personnel operating
near Novaya Tavolzhanka (3.5km from the Russian-Ukrainian border) and LSR and RDK personnel
striking Russian positions near the settlement as well as Shebekino, Belgorod Oblast (7km from the
Russian-Ukrainian border).[5] The RDK stated that the ”second phase” of its operations has begun
and published footage purporting to show RDK personnel engaging in combat on the outskirts of
Shebekino.[6] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian Border Guard Service
and Federal Security Service (FSB) officers thwarted two motorized infantry companies reinforced
with tanks that attempted to ”invade” Russian territory near Shebekino and Novaya
Tavolzhanka.[7] Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that ”there were no enemies on
the territory of Belgorod Oblast” during the attempted raids, although geolocated footage shows
alleged LSR personnel operating on Russian territory.[8]
A prominent Russian milblogger claimed that 20 Russian border guards and 20 conscripts as well as
Russian aviation and artillery units repelled the RDK and LRS personnel that attempted to conduct a
