Russian defence minister announces Ukraine's losses in Zaporizhzhya direction

The Russian Armed Forces prevented an attack of the Ukrainian troops of 1,500 men in the Zaporizhzhya direction, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

"At 1:30 a.m. today [June 8], the enemy attempted to break through our defence in the Zaporizhzhya direction by the 47th mechanised brigade with up to 1,500 men and 150 armoured vehicles," he said, TASS reports.

According to the minister, the Ukrainian troops were timely detected by the reconnaissance forces and a preventive strike was carried out by artillery, aviation and anti-tank weapons.

"In all four directions the enemy was stopped and withdrew with heavy losses," the minister stressed.

He noted that as a result of the two-hour battle the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 30 tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles, and up to 350 personnel. Thus, Ukraine’s specially trained reserve forces for this breakthrough did not fulfil their task.

Also, according to Shoigu, during the day of combat operations on June 7, the Ukrainian forces lost 945 personnel, 33 tanks, 28 infantry fighting vehicles, 38 armoured combat vehicles, three Krab self-propelled artillery units and other weapons.