Ukrainian Losses Mount As Counteroffensive Stall (Videos, Photos)
Kiev forces have sustained heavy human and material losses while attempting to advance in several directions, according to the August 17 briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Yug Group of Forces repelled four Ukrainian attacks close to Zaliznyanskoye, Staromikhailovka and Krasnogorovka. The group also conducted successful offensives and improved the situation along the frontline.
Moreover, a missile strike by the group on the Mezhevaya station destroyed a Ukrainian military train that was carrying ammunition.
The ministry said that Kiev forces lost 310 troops, one tank, three armored fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles and a D-20 towed artillery in this direction throughout the day.
Meanwhile in the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the frontline with the support of aviation and artillery fire. The group also repelled six attacks by Ukraine’s 14th Mechanised, 25th Airborne and 95th Air Assault brigades close to Olshana, Sinkovka and Novosyolovskoye.
Up to 125 Ukrainian troops were eliminated in this direction, the ministry said in its briefing, adding that two armored fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, a Tyulpan self-propelled mortar, an American-made M777 towed howitzer and an American-made M109 self-propelled howitzer were destroyed.
In the Krasny Liman direction, the Russian Tsentr Group of Forces repelled an attack by the 42nd Mechanised Brigade of Kiev forces near Kuzmino. In addition, the group carried out strikes against Ukrainian units close to Kremennaya and Chervonaya Dibrova.
At least 55 Ukrainian troops, two armored fighting vehicles, three vehicles, an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer and two D-30 towed howitzers were neutralized in this direction, according to the ministry.
In the South Donetsk direction, the aviation and artillery of the Russian Vostok Group of Forces targeted Ukrainian gatherings and positions near Priyutnoye, Staromayorskoye and Rovnopol. More than 175 Ukrainian soldiers were neutralized, according to the ministry. Two tanks, three armored fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-20 towed howitzer and two Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers were also destroyed.
And in the Zaporozhye direction, an attack by Ukraine’s 46th Airmobile Brigade was repelled close to Rabotino. The ministry said that Ukrainian losses in this direction amounted to 195 troops, four American-made Stryker armored personnel carriers, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, an American-made M777 towed howitzer, a British -made FH-70 towed howitzer as well as two Msta-B and one D-20 towed howitzers.
In Kherson direction, Kiev forces lost up to 30 troops, three motor vehicles and a D-30 towed howitzer as a result of Russian military fire.
The Russian MoD also provided the following details during its briefing:
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 138 areas during the day.
Two AFU drone control points were hit in the areas of the settlements of Lastochkino (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Ivanovskoye (Zaporozhye region). A command and observation post of a unit of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and an ammunition depot were hit near Serebryanka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Russian air defense forces have intercepted one HIMARS MLRS projectile during the day.
In addition, 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted in the areas of Zhitlovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Soledar, Nikolayevka, Zarya, Orlinskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Mirnoye, (Zaporozhye region), and Olshana (Kharkov region).
In total, 459 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,805 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defense missile systems, 11,349 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,918 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,289 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
In addition, Russian news sources shared videos showing several strikes with Lancet loitering munitions, one of which damaged a Swedish-made CV90 armored combat vehicle, as well as recent airstrikes on positions of Kiev forces in different directions.
Ukraine launched its counteroffensive more than ten weeks ago after receiving around $200 billion in military aid from its Western backers. However, its forces are suffering heavy losses and they are yet to make any meaningful gains in any direction.
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