The Russian president declared on Thursday that the hostilities have “considerably intensified” in recent days in southern Ukraine, mainly along the front line that crosses the Zaporizhia oblast, as reported by the Associated Press (AP) news agency.
Speaking on camera before Russian journalists, on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit that opened on Thursday in Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Poutine hailed the “heroism” of Russian soldiers who, according to him, repelled attacks from the Kiev army and inflicted heavy human and material losses on them.
“Unfortunately, we have not been spared losses, but the difference is enormous…
Une vidéo des remarques faites par M. Poutine a été publiée sur Telegram par un journaliste de la télévision d’Etat, Pavel Zarubin, rapporte par ailleurs AP.
For weeks, Moscow has been insisting on the failure of the Kiev counteroffensive, without providing evidence. Ukrainian officials have remained practically silent on the evolution of the battlefield since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
According to the New York Times, Ukraine would begin a new phase on Thursday. The American newspaper relies on the testimony of two Pentagon officials who, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Washington had been warned of this new phase by Kiev.
Several media outlets are mentioning in particular a breakthrough towards the city of Bakhmut, located in southeastern Ukraine and captured by the Russians at the end of May, but around which intense fighting continues.
For the moment, we are not able to confirm or deny these claims. We will keep you informed as soon as we have reliable and verified information to share with you.
