Image Credits- NY Times
The Russian Defence Ministry provided an update on its military operations in Ukraine during a briefing on Friday, claiming to have inflicted significant losses on Ukrainian forces amid heavy fighting across multiple fronts.
According to Russian military officials, Ukrainian casualties amounted to 300 soldiers killed in clashes over the past day in the zone of responsibility of the “Zapad” (West) Battlegroup operating in Ukraine.
Further Russian claims include:
- Units from the “Yug” (South) Battlegroup improved positions along the frontlines and repelled four attacks by Ukrainian troops.
- In the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian forces thwarted 10 Ukrainian attacks near the settlements of Ocheretino, Semenovka, Solovyevo, Netaylovo and Berdychi.
- The “Tsentr” (Center) Battlegroup’s operations resulted in 390 Ukrainian soldiers killed over 24 hours.
- The “Sever” (North) Battlegroup inflicted 170 casualties on Ukrainian forces in one day, capturing 34 soldiers as prisoners.
The Russian figures could not be independently verified.
Both sides have made competing claims of gains and losses as the fighting rages, particularly in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine which has become the main focal point of the conflict.
Ukraine continues to receive heavy weapons from Western allies in efforts to stall Russia’s offensive and potentially launch counterattacks to reclaim occupied territories. Moscow’s forces aim to capture the entirety of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.