Moscow called out Zelensky's boast of a strong offensive that puttered out when Ukrainian troop casualties were many as Kyiv still pushed for it. Russia claimed that during the fighting, its forces were able to take out a large number of soldiers and equipment.
Military Operation Miserably Fails
Last Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry asserted that they took the lead in southern Ukraine and yet suffered substantial losses in the process, reported RT.
In a daily briefing, the MoD spokesman stated that Ukrainian losses totaled more than 350 soldiers, just as air support and artillery engaged enemy fighters in 24 hours.
According to the statement, Ukraine's losses included 31 tanks, 22 infantry fighting vehicles, 18 armored units, eight armed pickups, and 17 other military vehicles.
Kyiv initiated a long-promised counterattack this week to recapture Moscow territory in the nation's south and disclosed capturing some villages, but officials have mostly been silent about the mission's specifics, such as its cost, quoting secrecy.
A few Western news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, acknowledged that Ukraine was paying a heavy price. To gain knowledge of what was happening on the frontlines, the daily paper spoke with massive Ukrainian troop casualties on the battlefield, in addition to medics trying to treat them.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a doctor treating soldiers said that when they brought in such a huge number of injured, he felt sorry for them and started wondering whether it was worth undertaking Zelensky's boast at such a cost.
Russia Releases Number of Ukrainian Counter-Offensive Losses
Moscow confirmed that over 1,000 Ukrainian service members died in a failed mission in the country's south. According to official statements, the botched and ill-conceived operation was inspired by the Ukrainian leader's desire to retake the Donbass and Crimea, citing Posts of Asia.
During this engagement, Russian forces obliterated and demolished a substantial amount of hardware, which included 48 tanks, 46 IFVs, 37 armored vehicles, and eight machine gun-armed pickups. However, Kyiv's greatest loss was the 1,200 soldiers killed in that specific operation.
Defense Ministry noted serious losses in this offensive, which, if not ground to dust by the Russians, would have led to Nikolaev, Krivoy Rog, and settlements in Ukraine's south.
Moscow's forces routed units from the 128th Ukrainian Mountain Assault Brigade, which had been reassigned from western Ukraine to take part in the military operation.
According to the ministry, five service members from this brigade arranged to lay down their arms and surrender. The Ukrainians lost 200 militants, 40 foreign mercenaries, and 20 armored units in the fighting. A statement comes after the Russian Defense Ministry asserted on Monday that the Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kherson had failed miserably.
The ministry estimated Kyiv's losses at the time to be 26 tanks, 23 armored fighting vehicles, nine more armored vehicles, two jets, and at least 560 troops. He has repeatedly stated that a Kherson counter-offensive will take place this summer, as more weapons and ammunition are requested from Western supporters.
The Ukrainian leader spoke via a video address last Sunday and promised that captured territories would be reclaimed from Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Kherson, and Crimea; but easier said than done. Moscow hollowed out Zelensky's boast of an offensive to retake areas but only suffered massive Ukrainian troop casualties and expensive hardware.
Related Article: Former Russian President Says Military Takeover, Booting Out Zelensky Is Only Way To End Ukraine Conflict
