Ukraine Lost Nearly 21,000 Soldiers, Over 2,000 Pieces of Equipment in July, Defense Minister Says
© AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The top Russian defense official also noted that the Ukrainian regime has been focusing on terrorist attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, and that measures are being taken to increase protection against air and sea attacks on Russian territory.
Ukraine lost 20,824 soldiers and 2,227 pieces of military equipment during battles in July, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting with the defense ministry's leadership on Monday.
"Over the past month, as a result of the successful activities of our troops, the losses of the enemy amounted to more than 20,800 servicemen, to be exact, 20,824 people, and 2,227 pieces of various weapons," Shoigu told military officials, adding that Kiev lost 10 Leopard tanks.
He also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) lost about 400 soldiers and 63 pieces of equipment in the Orekhovo direction on July 26-27.
Shoigu mentioned that Russia thwarted UAF's large-scale attempt to break through defense lines in this direction.
"Only in two days, July 26-27, in the area of the village of Rabotyne, more than 400 Ukrainian military personnel, 31 tanks, including three German Leopards, two French [tanks], and 32 armored combat vehicles were destroyed. A total of 63 armored vehicles [were destroyed]," he said.
The minister pointed out that Russian armed forces are active in all directions in the area of the special military operation in Ukraine, focusing on weakening combat capabilities of Ukraine.
"The joint group of forces is continuing to conduct active operations in all directions, focusing on weakening combat capabilities of the enemy," Shoigu said.
The Russian defense official revealed that the Russian military has seized two settlements, namely Sergeevka and Kovalevka, in the direction of Krasnyi Lyman, as well as the Molchanovka railway station in the direction of Kupyansk.
"Using maneuver and counterattacks, Russian formations and military units liberated the settlements of Kovalevka and Sergeevka in the Krasnyi Lyman direction, as well as the Molchanovka railway station in the Kupyansk direction from the Nazis," he told military officials.
The minister noted that the Kiev regime, having failed in its counter-offensive in recent weeks, is now focusing on carrying out terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia.
"Amid an unsuccessful so-called counteroffensive, the Kiev regime, with the support of Western sponsors, has focused on carrying out terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in cities and towns of the Russian Federation," Shoigu told military officials.
The Russia troops have increased intensity of strikes on Ukraine's military facilities, including the ones behind terrorist attacks on Russia, Shoigu added.
Shoigu also emphasized that additional measures have been taken to enhance protection of Russia's civil infrastructure from attacks from air and sea.
"Considering the current situation, additional measures to increase protection from attacks from air and sea have been taken," the minister said at a meeting with the defense ministry's leadership.
