Russia says Kiev lost 26,000 troops in 'counter-offensive'
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia's TASS news agency reported on July 12 that the country's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu provided the above information, adding that the results of combat operations are being carefully monitored and analyzed by foreign intelligence agencies.
According to the above source, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu informed the press that since June 4, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 26,000 soldiers and more than 3,000 pieces of military equipment in what they called a "counterattack".
“Enemy losses since June 4 have exceeded 26,000 soldiers and 3,000 different items and weapons,” he said.
According to Mr. Shoigu, the Russian army destroyed 21 planes, 5 helicopters, 1,244 tanks and other armored vehicles, 17 German-made Leopard tanks, 5 French-made AMX tanks and 12 US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles during the above period.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed 914 special vehicles, 2 air defense systems, 25 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), 403 field guns and mortars.
Russian air defense systems shot down 176 HIMARS missiles, 27 Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 483 drones of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Mr. Shoigu emphasized the losses to the Ukrainian artillery forces: “Once again, I repeat, 403 weapons (artillery) were destroyed, including 43 American-made guns and 46 self-propelled guns of Poland, the United States and France.”
He added that the Russian military continues to strike enemy stockpiles and Western-supplied military equipment with high-precision weapons, thereby reducing the offensive capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to Mr. Shoigu, foreign intelligence agencies, especially those of the United States and NATO, are closely monitoring and analyzing Russia's combat operations, noting "the high efficiency of our defense lines and minefields, as well as the professional work of our air force and ground attack aircraft, which are the means of conducting preemptive strikes against enemy targets."
