2023-06-05 23:56:31
Russia says it has thwarted another major offensive by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk. According to Russian agency information, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday evening that, among other things, eight Leopard battle tanks and three French wheeled tanks were destroyed. 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers were killed. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has predicted a defeat on the battlefield for Moscow.
“After suffering heavy casualties the day before, the Kiev regime reorganized the remnants of the 23rd and 31st brigades into separate, consolidated units that continued their offensive operations,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. Russian ground and air forces inflicted defeat on Ukrainian forces with rockets, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems. The report might not be independently confirmed, and Ukraine did not comment.
On Monday, Ukraine already rejected the Russian claim that a counter-offensive had been launched in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy said in his evening video message distributed in Kiev: “Russia will lose this war. The enemy knows that Ukraine will win. You see that. You feel it thanks to our strikes, soldiers and especially in the Donbass region.”
In particular, Zelenskyy praised advances by Ukrainian troops in the direction of the city of Bakhmut, which Russia had already declared conquered. The achievements there are the news Ukraine has been waiting for, he said. “We see how hysterically Russia is watching every step we take, every position we take.” Nevertheless, the power apparatus in Moscow continues to refuse to acknowledge reality. Rather, Russia is trying to deceive the world, circumvent sanctions and produce more weapons.
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