The Russian defense ministry claims to have thwarted a significant Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, claiming to have slain 250 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed armored vehicles.
The footage of what Russia claims is the combat appears to show military vehicles receiving intense fire in open fields.
However, there has been no response from Kiev, and Russia’s claim has not been independently confirmed.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive has been awaited for quite some time, but Kyiv has stated that it will not issue a warning prior to its launch.
In addition, it is unclear whether the alleged assaults indicate that a renewed effort to recapture Ukrainian territory from Russian forces has begun in earnest.
Sunday, Ukraine launched a “large-scale offensive” in the Donetsk region with six mechanized and two tank battalions, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
It was asserted that the Ukrainians attempted to breach Russian defenses in what Kyiv perceived to be the most vulnerable section of the frontline, but that they “failed to accomplish their objectives, they were unsuccessful.”
Ukraine has been preparing for months to launch a counteroffensive. However, it desired as much time as possible to train soldiers and receive military supplies from Western allies.
Officials in Kiev have cautioned against public speculation regarding the offensive, stating that it could aid the adversary.
“Plans enjoy calm. “There will be no announcement of the start date,” the defense ministry stated in a video posted to Telegram on Sunday.
The video depicted disguised, well-armed soldiers pressing their fingertips to their lips.
The Ukrainian government must demonstrate to the Ukrainian people and its Western allies that it can breach Russian lines, end the military stalemate, and recapture some of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
Monday morning, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Ukrainian troops were “advancing” toward Bakhmut and had devastated a Russian position near the city.
Aside from this, militants opposed to the government in Moscow claim to have captured Russian personnel in Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian frontier.
The claim was made by the Legion for the Freedom of Russia (FRL), which characterized the announcement as a joint statement with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).
Both organizations seek to oust Vladimir Putin as president. They oppose the full-scale invasion of the Ukraine he launched in February of last year.
The senior official of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, responded that he was willing to meet the men’s captors if they were still alive. However, the militants subsequently reported that the governor “lacked the courage” to meet with them, and that they would turn over their captives to Ukraine.
Russia has blamed Ukraine for recent assaults in its border regions, but Kiev denies any involvement.
Monday morning, Belgorod authorities reported that a drone strike had set a power plant ablaze.
And in Russia’s Kaluga region, which borders the southern districts surrounding Moscow, governor Vladislav Shapsha reported that two drones plummeted onto a major road. Mr. Shapsha stated that there was no detonation, and the area has been cordoned off as a result.
There is no independent substantiation of either attack, but Moscow asserts that the Belgorod region has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drone attacks.
