Ukraine war: Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive

Russia’s defence ministry says it has thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, claiming to have killed 250 troops and destroyed armoured automobiles.

Video of what Russia says is the battle seems to point out army automobiles coming underneath heavy hearth in fields.

But there was no remark from Kyiv and Russia’s declare has not been independently verified.

A Ukrainian counter-offensive has been lengthy awaited however Kyiv says it is not going to give advance warning of its start.

It is simply too early to say whether or not this alleged offensive is the start of Kyiv’s long-awaited counterpunch.

However, with Ukraine claiming to have made marginal features elsewhere on the entrance line, there was a notable improve in army exercise.

The Russian defence ministry mentioned Ukraine had launched the “large-scale offensive” within the Donetsk area on Sunday utilizing six mechanised and two tank battalions.

It claimed the Ukrainians tried to interrupt by Russian defences in what Kyiv noticed as probably the most susceptible a part of the entrance line – however that it “did not achieve its tasks, it had no success”.

Moscow claimed Ukraine had misplaced 250 troops in addition to 16 tanks.

The footage featured masked and well-armed troops holding their fingers towards their lips.

The claims by Russia’s defence ministry usually are not but verified. If the footage of armoured automobiles coming underneath heavy hearth is genuine, then it displays the stiff resistance Ukrainian forces will face as they attempt to liberate extra territory.

And if it just isn’t what it appears, it remains to be an try by Moscow to take management of the narrative.

There has been a major improve in Ukrainian messaging on when and the way their much-anticipated counter-offensive might take form.

Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months. But it has wished as a lot time as doable to train troops and to obtain army tools from Western allies.

Officials in Kyiv have warned towards public hypothesis over the offensive, saying it might assist the enemy.

“Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the start,” the defence ministry mentioned in a video posted to Telegram on Sunday. Its footage featured masked and well-armed troops holding their fingers towards their lips.

It will take Ukraine time to realize its objective of liberating territory taken by Russia way back to 9 years in the past.

And Moscow has had time to organize. It means if Ukraine is ready to mount a counter-offensive, it goes to take some time.

Much is at stake as a result of the federal government in Kyiv wants to point out the folks of Ukraine – and Western allies – that it can break by Russian traces, finish the efficient army impasse and recapture a few of its sovereign territory.

On Monday morning, the commander of Ukraine’s floor forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, mentioned troops have been “moving forward” in the direction of Bakhmut and had destroyed a Russian place close to the town.

The declare was made by the Liberty of Russia Legion (FRL), which described the announcement as a joint assertion with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).

Both teams need to topple President Vladimir Putin. They oppose the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that he launched in February final 12 months.

Belgorod’s high official, Vyacheslav Gladkov, replied to say he had agreed to fulfill the lads’s captors if the troopers have been nonetheless alive. But the fighters later mentioned that the governor “had not found the courage” to fulfill them and they’d hand over their captives to Ukraine.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for current assaults in its border territories, however Kyiv denies being straight concerned.

Authorities in Belgorod mentioned an power plant was ablaze following a drone assault on Monday morning.

And in Russia’s Kaluga area – which borders the southern districts round Moscow – governor Vladislav Shapsha mentioned two drones fell onto a essential highway. Mr Shapsha mentioned there had not been an explosion and the world was now cordoned off.

There has been no unbiased affirmation of both assault, however Moscow says the Belgorod area has been the common goal of drone assaults from Ukraine.