Russia said on Wednesday it is depleting Ukraine’s military, 20 months after a campaign in which neither side made significant gains.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the comments during a visit to eastern Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
“The current situation suggests that the enemy has fewer and fewer opportunities. And these will become smaller and smaller, solely because of your combat work,” Shoigu told the Russian soldiers.
Shoigu was also filmed smiling and laughing as a Russian soldier told him that Ukrainian troops were “in panic”.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine have made significant territorial gains in the 20-month conflict for months, while losses continue to mount. Analysts say the conflict is approaching a winter stalemate.
The Defense Ministry did not say when Shoigu’s visit to the Russian command post “Vostok” took place.
In a rare admission, the ministry also quoted soldiers as telling Shoigu that heavy Ukrainian artillery fire was having an effect.
“The enemy’s artillery is causing a lot of problems. We are taking action,” the soldiers said.
The defense minister has been criticized within Russia for Moscow’s failure to make bigger gains during its attack on Ukraine.
Russian forces have recently intensified their attacks on the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, but have failed to make any significant progress.
According to Kiev and independent military analysts, Russia has suffered a series of losses of personnel and equipment in its attempt to take the city, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
News of Shoigu’s visit comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kiev had managed to prevent Russian attacks from the Black Sea and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
“The Russian fleet is no longer able to operate in the western Black Sea and is gradually fleeing Crimea. This is a historic achievement,” Zelensky said at a diplomatic summit on Tuesday.
Source: DN
