Putin Says Ukraine’s Losses Near ‘Catastrophic’

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Tuesday that Kyiv was struggling huge losses in its extremely touted counter offensive towards Russian positions in Ukraine, which he stated was focusing on a number of sectors of the entrance.

“Their losses are approaching a degree that might be described as catastrophic,” Putin stated throughout a gathering with Russian journalists and writers overlaying the battle.

After months of build up expectations, Ukraine launched its offensive to claw again territory from Russian forces.

It claimed its first features over the weekend and on Monday, whereas Russia stated it repelled all assaults.

“It is a huge counter offensive, utilizing strategic reserves that had been ready for this process,” Putin stated.

Putin stated Ukraine launched its offensive on June 4, and was main it in not less than three sectors: Shakhtar and Vremenksy within the east, and Zaporizhzhia within the south.

“The enemy was not profitable in any space,” Putin stated, claiming Russia suffered “10 instances fewer losses than these of the armed forces of Ukraine.”

Kyiv over the winter bolstered its forces with weapons delivered by its Western allies.

Putin stated Kyiv had misplaced 160 tanks and 360 armored autos, “which, in line with my calculations, is about 25 p.c, perhaps 30 p.c of the tools delivered from overseas.”

“We misplaced 54 tanks and a few of them may be repaired and introduced again to operation,” Putin stated.

The counter offensive started after a collection of assaults on Russian territory, together with within the border area of Belgorod.

“One may have assumed that the enemy would behave this manner, and one may have ready higher,” Putin stated.

“After all, we have to reinforce the border,” he stated.

The Russian chief additionally stated that Moscow’s forces in Ukraine had been affected by shortages in army tools.

“Through the course of the particular army operation, it turned clear that many issues had been missing,” he stated.

“Excessive-precision ammunition, communications tools, drones and so forth… We now have them, however sadly, there’s not sufficient.”