Russia says Ukraine has begun counterattack but failed

Russia's defense minister said his country had broken up Ukraine's first three-day counterattack, which left more than 3,700 Kiev soldiers dead or wounded.

"Over the past three days, Ukraine has launched a long-promised counteroffensive in several areas of the front line," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today. "This offensive attempt was thwarted, the enemy was stopped. The enemy did not achieve any of its objectives and suffered heavy, incomparable losses."

According to Mr. Shoigu, Ukraine suffered more than 3,715 casualties, 52 tanks and 207 armored vehicles in three days. During the same period, 71 Russian soldiers were killed, 210 were wounded. Russian forces lost 15 tanks and 9 armored vehicles.

Mr. Shoigu said that Ukrainian forces attacked from five directions on June 4 and from seven directions on June 5. The attack on June 5 caused more than 1,600 Ukrainian casualties.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting in Moscow on May 24. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian officials have previously said that no information about a major Russian counter-offensive had been announced, and have dodged questions about the operation. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has urged the public to keep information about the military under wraps, saying that “the start date will not be announced.”

Ukraine and the West have repeatedly talked about a major counter-offensive campaign in the hope of retaking many areas controlled by Russia. The Ukrainian army has been trying to probe and weaken the enemy’s defenses in recent weeks, but has also tried to lower expectations due to concerns that what happens may not go as expected.

The situation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Graphics: WP

Russian Defense Minister Shoigu also accused Ukraine of destroying the Kakhovka dam in Kherson early this morning to create cover for Kiev to redeploy its forces in the area for counterattack operations.

"The Kiev authorities have committed another terrorist crime. The Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant has exploded, causing flooding in many areas," Shoigu said. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Western countries believe that Russia is responsible for the incident.

Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, AFP )

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