“There are people who think it’s a Hollywood movie and expect results now, but that’s not the case,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with British television channel BBC, admitting progress is being made in the counter-offensive . slower than desired”.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar explained that the counter-offensive continues in several sectors of the southern front and that “there is some progress in all directions”, after the army confirmed the recovery of eight sites on the fronts of Zaporijia and Donetsk had confirmed. .
“We are moving forward little by little, with small steps, but with great confidence. The big blow is yet to come,” Maliar wrote on the Telegram social network.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksi Danilov added that the forces are currently mainly tasked with knocking out Russian artillery, ammunition depots and supply routes.
Russia has already lost more than 4,000 tanks in 16 months of war, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
“In 16 months of war, 120 to 130 tank battalions of the Russian invaders were destroyed by the Ukrainian forces. (…) Since the beginning of the large-scale aggression, Russia has already lost more than 4,000 tanks,” he said. the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said in a statement.
Moscow, for its part, reported the destroyed equipment to the enemy, which is estimated to be 10,256 tanks and armored vehicles.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian forces destroyed 245 tanks and 678 armored vehicles during the Ukrainian counter-offensive alone.
The Russian leader says there is “some calm” on the fronts in Ukraine, but admitted the enemy counter-offensive has not yet exhausted its offensive potential.
“Strangely enough, we are experiencing a certain calm at the moment. This is because the enemy is suffering serious losses in personnel and equipment,” Putin explained.
The Russian president admits that Kiev has not yet exhausted its “offensive potential” and is considering “how and where to use it”.
As for Russia’s military potential, Putin assures that it will increase, ensuring Russia’s security and stability.
Russian Defense Minister Serguei Shoigu added that the fate of Russia and its geopolitical future are at stake, adding that the armed forces are ready to guarantee “the security and sovereignty” of his country.
The Russian and Ukrainian information has not been independently verified.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and impose political obligations on Russia. and economic sanctions.
Source: DN
