In the southern directions of Donetsk and Zaporizhia alone, where Ukrainian armed formations are conducting unsuccessful attacks, Russian forces destroyed 15 aircraft, three helicopters and 920 pieces of armor, including 16 Leopard tanks. This is, in fact, 100 percent of tanks of this type supplied by Poland and Portugal,” the minister said.
Russian forces continue to effectively inflict damage on the enemy through firepower, which significantly reduces its offensive potential, Shoygu said at the meeting. According to the minister, Ukrainian troops have lost around 2,500 different heavy weapons since June 4. Furthermore, the Russian Air Defense Forces are said to have shot down 158 HIMARS missiles and 25 Storm Shadow cruise missiles in the past month.
“The enemy has not achieved its objectives in any sector of the front line, which testifies to the skill of Russian fighters and the clear overestimation of much-touted Western weapons,” Shoygu said.
According to Reuters news agency, Shoigu also spoke out today for the first time about the Wagner mutiny of exiled mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Shoigu said the failed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group had no impact on Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. According to Shoygu, Prigozhin’s plans “to destabilize Russia” failed due to the “loyalty” of his troops.
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