Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the great counteroffensive that Ukraine has been preparing for months “began” at the front, but he guaranteed that Kiev’s forces “did not reach the objectives” set.
“We can fully affirm that this offensive has begun, demonstrating the use of its strategic reserves,” Putin declared in a video broadcast on the Telegram platform by a Russian public television journalist.
Putin said that the fighting has been going on for five days, but guaranteed that the Ukrainian troops “did not reach the objectives on any of the battlefields.”
“All counteroffensive attempts made so far have failed, but the Kiev regime still has offensive potential,” Putin added, assuring that the Russian response “will be based on this finding.”
The Russian Army has reported in recent days intense fighting in southern Ukraine, claiming to have repelled several Ukrainian attacks that would be the harbinger of the vast counteroffensive that the Ukrainian General Staff has been preparing for several months.
The Ukrainian authorities, armed with modern Western equipment, appear to have downplayed the fighting and are secretive about their strategy.
According to Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, Kiev forces are conducting “active combat operations” near the devastated city of Bakhmut (east) and “position battles” in the south, where Russian troops are conducting “defensive operations.”
On Tuesday, the Russian army acknowledged the deaths of 71 of its soldiers in operations aimed at repelling Ukrainian attacks on the front.
This Friday, Putin assured that the Ukrainian losses are “of the order of three to one” in favor of Russia.
At the same time, the Russian president announced the delivery of nuclear weapons to the territory of Belarus from July 7.
“Everything is going according to plan. On July 7 and 8, the facilities will be ready for this shipment. Subsequently, we can start the efforts to obtain different types of weapons. Everything is planned,” said the Kremlin leader.
On March 25, Putin announced that, at the request of Belarus, he would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the neighboring country “following the example of the United States and its allies.”
He also indicated that a nuclear weapons storage facility would be available on Belarusian soil by July 1.
Moscow has already sent “Iskander” missiles to Belarus, which can carry nuclear warheads, in addition to other equipment, particularly special munitions.
The armed conflict in Ukraine, which began with the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: TSF
