Russia claims to have fought off 'major Ukrainian offensive' in Donetsk

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

Russia has claimed to have repelled a “major offensive” in the Donetsk region and to have killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops, but the claims could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian officials made no comment, and have emphasised the need for secrecy about operations in recent days as anticipation grows for a major counteroffensive. Ukrainian military officers have predicted that any such counteroffensive would be preceded and accompanied by feints and diversionary attacks to “shape the battlefield” and cause as much confusion as possible in Russian ranks.
...
The ministry claimed 250 Ukrainian troops had been killed, and 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armoured personnel carriers destroyed.

Videos of combat posted online showed what were purported to be Ukrainian armoured cars blowing up in fields near Velyka Novosilka, 60 miles west of Donetsk city, but it was impossible to tell from the videos when they were taken and what the outcome of the battle was.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/05/russia-claims-to-have-fought-off-major-ukrainian-offensive-in-donetsk

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Also: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65806152

[Tomconroy]

1. Russia claims a lot of things.

[GPV]

2. Do they ever!

[RandySF]

3. Ukraine didn't deny it.

[AZ8theist]

4. I call bullshit.

More accurate reporting showed Ukraine advanced up to 3 Km into Russian held territory near Velyka Novosilka. They used lightly armored company sized assault formations and subsequently retreated. It was reported they lost only 1 tank and 9 other vehicles. No reports on casualties.
This DOES NOT appear to be a major counter-offensive; more like a probing attack. Meanwhile, in the north, Russia can not even secure it's own borders in the Belgorad region. More and more Russian troops are being shifted from the south to fend off the Russian insurgents attacking there. As part of the defense of this area, Russia has taken to bombing it's own villages. Video has surfaced of wide-spread looting in the town Shebekino as the population leaves in droves and border security is nowhere to be found.

Russia's got a mess on it's hands.

[Grokenstein]

5. Russia's claims over the past year-and-a-half of this three-day operation

probably add up to three times the entire population of Ukraine.

[oldsoftie]

7. And 6x the number of HIMARS systems actually sent!

[oldsoftie]

6. Hopefully this is NOT accurate. Neither side is totally open about stuff like this

Understandably.
But we know Russia LIES a helluva lot MORE

[Oneironaut]

8. Usually in releases like this, it's true but slightly exaggerated.

Crud. This war is absolutely brutal.

[roamer65]

9. RuZZian lies.

[liberalla]

10. I hope this claim is inaccurate and/or greatly exaggerated.

I will wait for further reporting.

[sakabatou]

11. Riiiiight....