Russia's Defense Minister announced that the country had broken the first three-day counterattack by Ukraine, killing more than 3.700 Kiev soldiers.
"Over the past three days, Ukraine has launched a long-promised counter-offensive in various areas of the front lines," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today. “This attack attempt was foiled, the enemy blocked. The enemy hit no target and suffered heavy, incomparable losses.”
According to Shoigu, Ukraine lost more than 3.715 soldiers, 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.
Shoigu said Ukrainian forces attacked in five directions on June 5 and in seven directions on June 4. The attack on June 6 caused Ukraine to lose more than 7 people.
Ukraine's 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 previously insisted that no information about the major counter-attack was announced by Russia, and dodged questions about the operation. Ukraine's Defense Ministry urged citizens to keep information related to the army private and said that "the starting time will not be announced".
Ukraine and the West have repeatedly mentioned a major counter-offensive campaign in the hope of recapturing many of the regions that Russia controls. Ukraine's military in recent weeks has repeatedly sought to probe and weaken the enemy's defenses, but also tried to lower expectations due to fears that what happened may not be as expected.
Russian-Ukrainian war front. Graphics: WP
Russian Defense Minister Shoigu also accused Ukraine of destroying the Kakhovka Dam in Kherson early this morning to create a cover for Kiev to redeploy forces in the area for counter-offensive operations.
“The Kiev authorities have committed another terrorist crime. The Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station blew up, flooding many areas," Shoigu said. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Western countries hold that Russia is responsible for the incident.
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