The Russian Defense Minister judges that his army is on the offensive in Ukraine. Before an audience of high-ranking officers, Sergei Shoigu spoke about territorial gains. “Our units are advancing, expanding the area under their control and improving their position on the front line,” it said.
According to Shoigu, the Russian army captured the villages of Tabaivka and Krochmalne in the eastern Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast. A village near Bachmut is also now said to be under their control.
However, the actual situation is not entirely clear. According to the spokesperson of the local branch of the Ukrainian army, there is heavy fighting in Tabaivka, but the village is still in Ukrainian hands. “It is under heavy fire from Russian artillery,” it said yesterday.
According to other Ukrainian observers, Tabaivka and Krochmalne fell into Russian hands today. The Russian advance into the area is part of efforts to retake the city of Kupyansk.
“Enemy’s Last Reserves”
“After the enemy’s failed counter-offensive, the Russian armed forces have the strategic initiative on the entire front line,” Shoigu said. According to him, Ukraine is throwing in its last reserves and is moving to forced mobilization. “Otherwise their defense would completely collapse.”
LOOK. Putin: “Russian weapons are superior to those of NATO”
The Ukrainian army is reportedly suffering from ammunition shortages as foreign support is currently faltering. Shoigu did not comment on the high Russian losses in ground fighting in recent months.
Also read: PORTRAIT. “He will rot in jail.” Is Boris Nadezhdin a real challenger to Putin after all? (+)
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