Download
Russia says its forces thwarted major Ukrainian offensive
Updated 14:00, 05-Jun-2023
CGTN
Russian service members use a 122-millimeter howitzer D-30 in the Seversk sector of the frontline, May 23, 2023. /CFP
Russian service members use a 122-millimeter howitzer D-30 in the Seversk sector of the frontline, May 23, 2023. /CFP

Russian service members use a 122-millimeter howitzer D-30 in the Seversk sector of the frontline, May 23, 2023. /CFP

Russian forces have thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive in the southern Ukrainian region of Donetsk and killed hundreds of pro-Kyiv troops, the defense ministry in Moscow said on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said Ukraine had launched the attack on Sunday using six mechanized and two tank battalions.

"On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction," the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.

It was unclear whether the reported attack represented the start of a long-expected Ukrainian counteroffensive to recapture some of the territory taken by Russian forces after February 2022.

"The enemy's goal was to break through our defenses in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front," the defense ministry said. "The enemy did not achieve its tasks; it had no success."

The ministry also released a video of what it said showed several Ukrainian armored vehicles in a field blowing up after being hit.

Russian forces killed 250 Ukrainian troops and destroyed 16 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored combat vehicles, the ministry said.

Ukraine has, in recent weeks, sought to weaken Russian positions. Late last month, a senior official said preliminary operations, such as destroying supply lines or blowing up depots, had already begun.

A drone attack set an energy facility on fire in Russia's Belgorod region in the early hours of Monday, the region's governor said. The region borders Ukraine and has been shelled frequently in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Kyiv urged "silence" ahead of the long-expected counteroffensive to reclaim territory Russia took control of during the 15-month long conflict.

In an interview published a day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to act. Zelenskyy made no mention of the assault in his regular evening video address on Sunday night.

Source(s): Reuters

Search Trends