Russia's counterattack in Donetsk: Ukraine loses 380 Soldiers

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Aug 2023 16:33

Russia said it effectively thwarted eight individual attacks launched by the Ukrainian side in the Donetsk region, as per its defense ministry.

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 (AP Photo, File)

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces responded with counterattacks in the Donetsk region, resulting in significant casualties for the Ukrainian troops, with up to 380 soldiers lost in the last 24 hours.

The Ukrainian forces, on the other hand, persisted in their attempts to launch offensives in multiple directions, including Donetsk, South Donetsk, Kupyansk, and Krasnyi Lyman. In the Donetsk area alone, Russia successfully repelled eight separate attacks by the Ukrainian side.

"After repelling the attacks, Russian troops counterattacked the retreating enemy and improved the position along the front line in the areas of the settlements of Berestove, Krasnohorivka, and Marinka of the Donetsk People's Republic. During the past day, the enemy’s losses amounted to 380 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, five armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mounts, as well as the Rapira anti-tank gun," the ministry said in a statement.

In the South Donetsk direction, the Ukrainian forces suffered losses of up to 175 soldiers, one tank, and two M777 howitzers, the statement added.

The Russian Defense Ministry also stated that the Ukrainian military incurred losses of around 110 soldiers in the Krasnyi Lyman direction and approximately 150 soldiers in the Kupyansk direction.

"In the Kupyansk direction, the assault detachments of [Russia’s] western grouping of forces carried out offensive operations on a wide front and took up more advantageous positions in the areas of the settlements of Olshanske, Pershotravneve in Kharkiv Region and Kuzemivka in the Luhansk People’s Republic," the ministry concluded.

Russia thwarts drone threat: Six UAVs intercepted near Moscow

Earlier today, Russia reported shooting down six drones in the Kaluga region, situated less than 200 kilometers from Moscow, in response to a surge of drone attacks targeting the capital city.

The Russian defense ministry stated that it successfully thwarted a "terrorist attack with drones" in Kaluga.

Vyacheslav Shapsha, the regional governor, confirmed that anti-air defense systems intercepted and destroyed the six drones attempting to cross the Kaluga region, causing no casualties.

"This night, six drones trying to cross the Kaluga region, were shot down with anti-air defence systems," said regional governor Vyacheslav Shapsha said on Telegram.

This incident came after Russia downed Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, Crimea, and Black Sea vessels, with a Moscow skyscraper being hit for the second time. Russia had previously threatened to intensify strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure in response to drone attacks on its territory, which they attributed to Kiev.

It is worth noting that Kiev has increased the amount of long-range missile and drone attacks against Russian cities and drones, coinciding with a failed counteroffensive on the frontline. Ukraine is suffering huge losses both in the air and on the ground as Ukrainian armed forces entrap themselves in minefields and artillery ambushes, losing essential Western equipment and vehicles.

The Washington Post has lately estimated that Ukraine's drone losses are around 10,000 drones a month, citing a UK-based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, which gave the ten thousand estimate, contradicting Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who told the WP that Russian forces are bringing down only 1,000 drones a month.

In the month of July alone, Ukraine lost 20,824 soldiers and 2,227 pieces of military equipment, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday before a meeting with the defense ministry's leadership.

"Over the past month, as a result of the successful activities of our troops, the losses of the enemy amounted to more than 20,800 servicemen, to be exact, 20,824 people, and 2,227 pieces of various weapons," Shoigu said, adding that Kiev sustained the loss of an additional10 Leopard tanks.