"Fantasies". This is how Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, defined the balance of Ukrainian losses claimed by Russia which claims to have rejected two major offensives in two days. “These are just ramblings,” Prigozhin wrote in a Telegram message.
Moscow's defense ministry said it had repulsed two large-scale Ukrainian offensives in southern Donbass on Sunday and yesterday, killing "more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers" and destroying "28 tanks". The Kiev government, while claiming territorial gains near the devastated city of Bakhmout, in the east of the country, has relativized the extent of its "offensive actions" and has not provided any assessment.
Killing 1,500 soldiers in one day is "a hellish massacre," joked Wagner's boss, mocking Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. “Actually, why not add up all the numbers given by Konashenkov? I think we've already destroyed the entire planet Earth five times."
In the meantime, the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant (Hpp) was blown up by Russian forces: the announcement was made by the Southern Operational Command of the Ukrainian army, as reported by Ukrinform. «The extent of the destruction, the speed and volume of the water, the probable areas of flooding are currently being verified. All services work. The situation is being monitored,” the Command said. In reaction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urgently convened the National Security Council.
(Unioneonline/ss)