Kiev requires the command of the Ukrainian army to continue offensive operations at the request of the West, despite significant losses, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Monday.
"Despite significant losses, the Ukrainian leadership requires the command of the Ukrainian armed forces to continue the offensive at the insistence of Western curators," Shoigu told top military officials at a meeting.
The minister added that the Russian military is reducing the offensive potential of the Ukrainian armed forces by conducting effective strikes.
"Our armed forces continue to inflict effective fire damage on the enemy, which significantly reduces its offensive potential," Shoigu remarked.
According to the minister, the Russian armed forces have destroyed 920 Ukrainian armored vehicles, including 16 Leopard tanks, in Donbas and Zaporozhye regions in June.
Shoigu pointed out that Russian air defense forces have intercepted "158 HIMARS rockets, 25 Storm Shadow cruise missiles and 386 drones."
The head of the ministry also commented on the attempted mutiny, saying that the attempt to destabilize the situation in Russia has failed due to the loyalty to oath and military duty of military personnel of the Russian armed forces.
"I cannot but touch upon one more issue ... We are talking about an attempt on June 23-25 to destabilize the situation in Russia. These plans failed primarily because the personnel of the armed forces showed loyalty to the oath and military duty," Shoigu underlined.
Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics sought protection from Ukrainian provocations.
Western countries responded to Russia's operation by mounting a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and supplying weapons to Ukraine.