Donetsk, Oct 16 — DAN. Ukrainian forces have been suffering massive losses in the course of the counteroffensive that exceed Russia’s losses by eight times, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Chinese journalists.

“They began active hostilities, the so-called counteroffensive, ” Putin said. “It has been ongoing since June 4. There’ve been no results so far, only tremendous losses; the losses are simply tremendous: the ratio approximates one to eight.”

Vladimir Putin earlier said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had failed and that although Kiev continued to prepare offensive operations, the Russian army was reacting accordingly.

The president also said that Russian army units were improving their positions practically along the whole frontline.*jk