Jun 5, 2023 at 1:49 am BST
Updated 1 hour ago
Image source: Getty Images
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Ukraine has been planning a counteroffensive for months
Russia’s Defense Ministry says it thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, allegedly killing 250 soldiers and destroying armored vehicles.
A video showing the battle, according to Russia, appears to show military vehicles coming under heavy fire in fields.
However, there was no comment from Kiev and Russia’s claim has not been independently verified.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive has long been expected, but Kiev says it will not announce its start in advance.
And it’s unclear whether the alleged attacks indicate that the new push to retake Ukrainian lands from Russian forces has started in earnest.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Ukraine launched the “major offensive” in the Donetsk region on Sunday with six mechanized and two tank battalions.
It said that the Ukrainians tried to break through the Russian defenses in the area breached by Kiev as the most vulnerable part of the front line, but “did not fulfill their tasks and did not succeed”.
Moscow claimed Ukraine lost 250 soldiers and 16 tanks.
Ukraine has been planning a counteroffensive for months. But it wanted as much time as possible to train troops and obtain military equipment from Western allies.
Officials in Kiev warned against public speculation about the offensive, saying it could help the enemy.
“Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the launch,” the Department of Defense said in a video posted to Telegram on Sunday.
The footage showed masked and well-armed troops holding their fingers to their lips.
The stakes are high as the government in Kiev must show the Ukrainian people – and Western allies – that they can break through Russian lines, end the actual military deadlock and retake part of their sovereign territory.
On Monday morning, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the troops were “advancing” towards Bakhmut and had destroyed a Russian position near the city.
The claim was made by the Legion of Freedom of Russia (FRL), which described the announcement as a joint statement with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).
Both groups want to overthrow President Vladimir Putin. They oppose the all-out invasion of Ukraine he launched in February last year.
Belgorod’s top official, Vyacheslav Gladkov, replied that he had agreed to meet the men’s kidnappers if the soldiers were still alive. But militants later said the governor “didn’t find the courage” to meet them and they would hand over their prisoners to Ukraine.
Russia has blamed Ukraine for the recent attacks in its border areas, but Kiev denies being directly involved.
According to the authorities in Belgorod, a power plant was on fire after a drone attack on Monday morning.
And in Russia’s Kaluga Region – which borders the southern districts around Moscow – Governor Vladislav Shapsha said two drones fell on a main road. Mr Shapsha said there had been no explosion and the area was now cordoned off.
There is no independent confirmation of either attack, but Moscow says the Belgorod region is a regular target of drone strikes from Ukraine.