Vladimir Putin claimed that the counteroffensive by Ukraine has stepped up in response to news that its forces have breached Russian defenses in the southeast of the nation.
At a press conference with African leaders in St. Petersburg, Putin warned that “hostilities have significantly escalated,”, especially along the frontline that passes through the Zaporizhzhia region.
Counteroffensive by Ukraine
The Russian President, however, claimed that no frontal area had seen success for Kyiv’s forces. According to Putin, Russian forces have destroyed 26 tanks and 13 armored vehicles on the battlefield. The enemy suffered heavy losses and was repulsed, and all attempts at a counteroffensive were met with resistance.
His comments followed a significant offensive by Ukrainian forces with Western-trained troops against Russian defenses in the southeast of the nation.
- Putin claims Ukraine’s counteroffensive intensifies amid Russian defense breach.
- Kyiv’s forces failed in frontal areas, destroyed 26 tanks, and met resistance.
- Ukrainian counteroffensive operations began in June; claims Melitopol nearing.
The geolocated video showed two US Bradley fighting vehicles and a Soviet-era T-72 tank operating near Robotyne, a town in the Zaporizhzhia area, outside of a Russian line of defense.
Since they started early counteroffensive operations in June, Ukrainian officials have largely kept quiet on battlefield advancements, although deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar claimed that forces are moving closer to the city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhizhia area.
