Russia Repels Ukrainian Army’s Massive Offensive in Donetsk

MOSCOW (AFP) – Russia said on Monday it repelled a “massive offensive” by Ukraine in the annexed Donetsk, killing hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers.

The Kiev authorities have been talking about preparing for a major counteroffensive for months, hoping to regain lost territory occupied by Russia’s February 2022 invasion; however, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently stated that it will not announce the start of the counteroffensive.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on the 4th that “the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five front-line defense areas” in the south of Donetsk.

“The enemy sent a total of 6 mechanized infantry battalions and 2 tank battalions to attack the front-line defense areas they considered the most vulnerable.” “The enemy did not complete their mission, they did not succeed.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video of what it says is the battle, showing Ukrainian armored vehicles coming under heavy artillery fire.

The Russian statement also said Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov “was at one of the forward command posts at the time”.

Parts of Udonetsk have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014. Donetsk is one of four eastern Ukrainian territories officially annexed by Russia last September, along with Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Deutsche Welle (DW) reported that the Ukrainian army used 6 mechanized infantry battalions and 2 tank battalions in its offensive on the 4th. The Russian army killed 250 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed dozens of armored vehicles. Deutsche Welle said that it is not clear whether this is one of the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensives. The Ukrainian side has never talked about whether the counteroffensive will launch a full-scale attack on the entire 1,100-kilometer front line, or a smaller offensive to weaken the Russian military forces and facilities.

Elsewhere along the Russia-Ukraine border, Russian forces also claimed to have repelled a “Ukrainian terrorist sabotage group” trying to cross the border near the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka in Belgorod region.