Kyiv loses over 125,000 troops in six months of counteroffensive — Russia’s defense chief

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Kyiv has lost more than 125,000 troops and 16,000 items of armament over six months of the so-called counteroffensive while Western arms supplies and mobilization activities in Ukraine only increased the Ukrainian army’s casualties.

"An all-out mobilization in Ukraine, the deliveries of Western armaments and the commitment of strategic reserves to combat by the Ukrainian military command have not changed the situation on the battlefield. These desperate actions have only added to casualties among Ukrainian army units. Over six months of the so-called counteroffensive, the enemy has lost more than 125,000 personnel and 16,000 items of various armament," the defence chief said at a conference call with military commanders, TASS reported on December 1.

Russian battlegroups are inflicting effective and strong damage on the enemy by firepower, which has considerably diminished the Ukrainian army’s combat capabilities, Shoigu said.

Russian troops "are operating competently and decisively, gaining more advantageous positions and expanding areas of their control in all directions," the defence chief emphasized.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry’s data, units of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, the 150th Motor Rifle Division, the 4th, 15th, 114th and 123rd motor rifle brigades especially distinguished themselves over the past month of battles in the special military operation.

"We will keep conducting active defence operations and building up the combat potential of the armed forces, taking into account the experience of the special military operation," the defence chief added.