Kyiv’s equipment in sight of Lancet loitering munition
On June 6, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu made an official statement on the situation on the frontline amid the ongoing ‘counter-offensive’ of the Kyiv regime.
According to the defense minister, during the 3 days of fighting in all directions, the losses of the Kyivb regime reached 3,715 troops, 52 battle tanks, 207 armoured fighting vehicles, 134 motor vehicles, 5 aircraft, 2 helicopters, 48 pieces of field artillery and 53 unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, a total of 71 servicemen died and 210 were wounded in repelling the Kyiv offensive. The Russian losses in military equipment were 15 battle tanks, 9 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 motor vehicles and 9 guns.
Russian Lancet loitering munition in action:
The full statement of Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu on the situation (emphasize was added by SF):
Over three days, the Ukrainian regime launched a long-promised offensive in different areas of the front, concentrating large quantities of hardware and manpower for this purpose.
On 4 June 2023, the 23rd and 31st mechanised brigades of the AFU attempted an offensive in five directions.
The enemy did not succeed in any of them and suffered significant losses: 300 servicemen, 16 tanks, 26 armoured fighting vehicles, and 14 motor vehicles.
On 5 June 2023, the Kiev regime attempted an offensive in seven directions with five brigades. The enemy was stopped and suffered even greater losses: more than 1,600 troops, 28 tanks, including 8 Leopard tanks and 3 AMX-10 wheeled tanks, 136 other military vehicles, including 79 foreign-manufactured ones.
The attempted offensive was thwarted, the enemy was stopped, and Russian troops showed courage and heroism in the fighting.
I repeat that the enemy failed to achieve its goals, and suffered considerable and incomparable losses.
The units of the 433rd Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorised Rifle Division, the 37th and 60th motorised rifle brigades distinguished themselves in battles, displaying persistence and fortitude.
The 3rd Company of the 37th Motorised Rifle Brigade under the command of Junior Lieutenant Yury Zhelanov and the commander of the 1st Battalion of the same brigade Major Vladimir Polozhentsev showed special heroism.
The divisions, having appeared on a direction of the main attack, steadfastly defended the occupied positions and have caused considerable losses to superior forces of the enemy’s 37th Marine Infantry Brigade. Under the threat of being surrounded, Junior Lieutenant Zhelanov, being wounded, led his company to previously equipped defensive positions, where he successfully stopped the advancing enemy units.
The skillful actions of our Operational-Tactical, Ground-Attack and Army aviation should be especially noted. They employed 50 anti-tank guided missiles. As a result, 5 tanks and 29 other armoured fighting vehicles were destroyed.
All in all during 3 days of fighting in all directions, the losses of the AFU amounted to 3,715 troops, 52 tanks, 207 armoured fighting vehicles, 134 motor vehicles, 5 aircraft, 2 helicopters, 48 pieces of field artillery, and 53 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Unfortunately, we have some losses too. A total of 71 servicemen died and 210 were wounded in repelling the enemy offensive by the combined group of forces. Fifteen tanks, 9 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 motor vehicles, and 9 guns were hit.
Tonight, the Kiev regime committed another terrorist crime: the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station facilities were blown up, flooding a large area. The purpose of these actions is reportedly as follows.
Having failed to succeed in the offensive operations, the enemy intends to redeploy the units and hardware from Kherson direction to its offensive area in order to strengthen its potential, significantly weakening its position in Kherson direction. The enemy has begun building defensive positions on the right bank of the Dnepr River, which indicates the intention to turn to defence there.
In order to prevent Russia’s offensive actions in this section of the front, the Kiev regime has carried out a sabotage, essentially a terrorist act, which has resulted in the flooding of significant areas and will have serious and long-lasting environmental consequences.
In addition, the release of water from the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, according to available data, has been significantly increased, leading to even greater flooding of areas.
This fact proves that the large-scale diversion was planned in advance by the Kiev regime.
At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a long-range air-based high-precision weapons attack on one of the decision-making centers of the armed forces of the Kyiv regime.
“The assigned target has been neutralised. The goal of the attack has been reached,” the defense ministry said in the statement.
Artillery strikes on Kyiv’s armoured vehicles (the source claim that MaxxPro MRAP was among targets. This is yet to be confirmed):
The Russian side confirms fierce clashes between the Russian military and the advancing Kyiv regime forces in several directions:
Close to Artyomovsk [Bakhmut], four offensive attempts by the AFU 5th Mountain Assault Brigade towards Kleshcheyevka and the 77th Airmobile Brigade near Berkhovka (Donetsk People’s Republic) have been successfully repelled by the active actions of the Yug Group of Forces. The enemy was not allowed to bypass and cut into our defences.
The enemy losses were over 260 Ukrainian servicemen, 5 tanks, 4 armoured fighting vehicles, 4 pickup trucks, 2 Grad MLRS systems, 3 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, 1 French-manufactured Cezar self-propelled artillery system, 1 U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, and D-30 and Msta-B howitzers.
In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Novomlynsk, Kislovka (Kharkov region) and Rozovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).
In addition, the activities of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been disrupted. The enemy losses were 40 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 armoured fighting vehicle, 3 motor vehicles and 3 Grad MLRS.
In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Kuzmino (Lugansk People’s Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy losses were over 60 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 2 pickup trucks, 1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.
In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 25 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 pickup trucks and 1 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 84 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 114 areas.
Ammunition depots of the AFU 57th and 72nd mechanised brigades and the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade have been destroyed close to Bogdanovka, Dobrovolye (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region).
Footage by the Russian Defense Ministry showing the destruction of not-identified armoured vehicles:
The Russian military added that its air defense forces have shot down:
- 2 Su-25 warplanes close to Babino (Kherson region) and Nikolskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic);
- 1 Su-27 warplane close to Andreevka (Donetsk People’s Republic);
- 2 Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters close to Novodovarovka (Zaporozhye region) and Vodyanskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
- As well as intercepted a Storm Shadow cruise missile, a HARM anti-radar missile, and 12 HIMARS and Uragan multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.
- 19 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been eliminated close to Opytnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic), Urozhaynoye, Tokmak and Pshenichnoye (Zaporozhye region).
It should be noted that Zaporozhye region remains among the hottest points of the frontline right now. The Kyiv offensive attempts are mostly focused on the sectors of Olgovskoe-Rovnopol, Novopol-Novodarovka, Velikaya Novoselovka-Urojainoe as well as in the areas of Novodonetskoe and Neskuchnoe. However, so far, all what Kyiv’s forces have not been able to achieve any notable success. The Russians keep all their key positions in the areas.
The situation was also stabilized in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The village of Novaya Tovoljanka, briefly attacked by Ukrainian raid groups, was secured, according to Belgorod Governor. It is possible that the recent attacks on Belgorod were an attempt of the Kyiv regime to distract attention of the Russian military from other parts of the frontline.
As of the second half of June 6, the fighting between Kyiv’s forces and the Russian Armed Forces continues in most of the aforementioned sectors. The first attempts of the Kyiv regime to advance have been repelled. Nonetheless, it still has enough manpower and military equipment to continue attempts to break the Russian defense. Kyiv and its foreign sponsors have been accumulating military equipment and preparing troops for this advance for a long time. Western diplomats openly send signals that they put a large stake on this large-scale offensive.
