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Russian forces conducted an at least platoon-sized mechanized assault in the Toretsk direction on June 17. Geolocated footage published on June 17 shows that Russian forces conducted a mechanized assault west of Yablunivka (west of Toretsk) with at least three armored vehicles and four motorized vehicles, likely all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Israel has shifted its air campaign to target Iranian ballistic missile production facilities since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff on June 17.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate Iran-Israeli talks following the onset of the Iran-Israeli war on June 13. Neither Iran, Israel, nor the United States is likely to engage in productive talks for peace or Iran's nuclear program in the near term. Putin is likely using the Iran-Israeli war to present himself to US President Donald Trump as a peacemaker in a bid to improve bilateral US-Russian relations and secure concessions over the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his commitment to raising a new elite comprised of loyal veterans via the Time of Heroes federal program, which appoints veterans into positions of federal, regional, and municipal power. Putin met with Time of Heroes participants on June 11 to commemorate Russia Day and stated that he had created the Time of Heroes program to ensure that future Russia is connected to Russian veterans.
The IAEA confirmed that Israeli strikes have impacted underground infrastructure at the Natanz nuclear site. This came after the IAEA reported that Israeli strikes have likely damaged or destroyed thousands of centrifuges at Natanz.
Russian forces conducted the third largest combined drone and missile strike against Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on the night of June 16 to 17. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 440 Shahed and decoy drones from the directions of Kursk, Oryol, and Bryansk cities; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has targeted military infrastructure across Iran since June 16. The IDF destroyed dozens of ballistic missile and drone storage and launch sites in western Iran overnight between June 16 and 17.
This explainer is meant to help build a common understanding of the structure and function of the myriad entities within the Iranian armed forces and the roles that they play in regime security.
Russia is attempting to leverage the Ukrainian children it has illegally deported in ongoing negotiations with Ukraine, thereby contradicting recent Russian efforts to deny and downplay the scale of its deportation campaign and confirming that Russia has indeed stolen Ukrainian children in clear violation of international law.
Iran has maintained its negotiating position on its nuclear program during the Israeli campaign, meaning that Iran does not appear willing to negotiate an end to the Iran-Israel War yet.