South Front
Screengrab. Source: the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Up to 1,500 Ukrainian troops took part in the latest offensive in the Zaporozhye region which was repelled by the Russian military, Russia’s Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu said on June 8.
The offensive took place near the village of Orekhov. German-made Leopard 2A4 led the ill-fated offensive, according to photos from the battlefield.
“At 1:30 a.m. the enemy made an attempt with up to 1,500 troops and 150 pieces of armor from the 47th mechanized brigade to break through our defense,” Shoigu said during a briefing.
Russia’s reconnaissance timely detected the enemy, following which artillery, aircraft and anti-tank forces delivered a pre-emptive strike on the Ukrainian troops, the minister added.
“The enemy was halted in all the four directions and retreated with heavy casualties,” Shoigu said.
According to the minister, Kiev forces lost 30 tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles and up to 350 personnel while attempting to advance.
“The Ukrainian army’s specially trained reserves failed to achieve the objective of breaking through Russian lines in the Zaporozhye area,” Shoigu explained.
The minister went on to reveal that Kiev forces lost 945 personnel, 33 tanks, 28 infantry fighting vehicles, 38 armored combat vehicles, three Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzers and other equipment during June 7.
Earlier, the press chief of the Russian Yug Group of Forces reported clashes with Kiev forces near the towns of Spornoye, Vesyoloye and Kurdyumovka.
According to the press chief, the group destroyed two howitzers of Kiev forces at firing positions near the towns of Zvanovka and Serebryanka, a third howitzer and a mortar near the town of Belaya Gora, and a fourth howitzer in the town Krasnogorovka.
Strongholds of the 24th Separated Mechanised Brigade of Kiev forces near the towns of Kirovo and Druzhba were also targeted with thermobaric rockets.
In addition, units of the Yug Group repelled an attack by Kiev forces in the Aleksandro-Kalinovo direction. Losses in manpower, weapons and hardware were reported.
Two Ukrainian-made Leleka-100 reconnaissance drones were also shot down by an 9K33 Osa air defense system of the group.
Kiev forces sustained heavy losses since launching their counteroffensive on June 4. However, they will likely go on with their military plans. More attacks will be launched in the upcoming few days. Offensive operations could go on for weeks, or even months.
