Central / Eastern Europe

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian defense ministry said in the early hours of Friday that it had thwarted a large-scale attack in the Ukrainian Donetsk region, killing hundreds of pro-Ukrainian forces.

The ministry said Ukraine launched an offensive with six mechanized units and two tank units on Saturday. “On the morning of the 4th, the enemy launched a large-scale attack on five front lines in the direction of southern Donetsk,” he said.

Reuters could not confirm the authenticity of the announcement. The Ukrainian side has yet to comment.

It is unclear whether the attack marks the start of a major counteroffensive by Ukraine to retake its territory.

“The enemy tried to break through our defenses in what he judged to be the most vulnerable areas on the front line, but they failed to accomplish their mission and were unsuccessful,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

It said it killed 250 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed 16 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored fighting vehicles.

It also revealed that General Gerasimov, the commander-in-chief of the invasion of Ukraine, was in the attacked areas.

A video posted by the Russian military to the Telegram communication app shows several military vehicles being attacked from the air.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Reznikov posted on Twitter on the 4th, quoting the lyrics of the 1990 song “Enjoy the Silence” by the British rock band “Depeche Mode”, saying, “Words are extremely unnecessary. Harm. It’s just an effect,” but the real intention is unclear.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on March 3 that he was ready to launch a counteroffensive.

The details of the Ukrainian counteroffensive plan are shrouded in mystery. Last month, the Russian capital, Moscow, was hit by a massive drone attack that Russia claimed was a terrorist attack by Ukraine. Pro-Ukrainian fighters have repeatedly carried out cross-border attacks in the Belgorod region of western Russia, which borders Ukraine.

Meanwhile, since early May, the Russian military has intensified its drone and missile attacks against targets in Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv.