Donetsk, Dec 19 — DAN. The Ukrainian army manpower losses since the beginning of the special military operation have topped 383,000, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
“The Ukrainian army losses have amounted to more than 383,000 servicemen killed or wounded, 14,000 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 553 aircraft and 259 helicopters and 8,500 field artillery pieces and multiple rocket launches, ” Shoigu said at a meeting with defense officials.
Since the start of the so-called counteroffensive on June 4, 2023, Ukraine has lost some 159,000 troops killed or wounded, 121 aircraft, 23 helicopters, 766 tanks in including 37 Leopards and 2,348 armored vehicles including 50 Bradleys, he said.
“As the enemy failed to break through the tactical defense zone of our troops, he was stopped and sustained tremendous losses, ” the defense minister said. “Perhaps, it is for this reason that we do not see in the battlefield the American Abrams tanks supplied several months ago.”
The Kiev regime has completed nine waves of mobilization; the 10th is ongoing where people fit for limited military service are enlisted, Shoigu said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the special military operation had dispelled the myth about the invulnerable western equipment.*jk