MOSCOW: In a rare admission of losses, Russia confirmed on Tuesday that 71 of its soldiers were killed and 210 wounded while repelling a long-awaited offensive by Ukrainian forces. Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, stated that the Ukrainian regime had launched the offensive as promised, targeting different sectors of the front.
According to Shoigu, Ukrainian forces attempted attacks from multiple directions on both Sunday and Monday, but failed to achieve their objectives. However, the Ukrainian offensive resulted in significant losses for Russian soldiers. The admission comes amid contrasting claims and mounting speculation surrounding Ukraine’s anticipated counteroffensive.
In a separate incident, a dam and hydroelectric power plant in a Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine were destroyed, leading to concerns of widespread flooding downstream along the Dnipro River. The dam’s destruction prompted Ukrainian and Russian officials to urge local communities near the Nova Kakhovka dam to evacuate immediately.
Ukrainian President Accuses “Russian Terrorists” of Dam Attack
The exact cause of the dam’s collapse remains unclear, with conflicting reports emerging from Moscow-installed officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam, emphasizing the need to expel them from Ukrainian territory. On the other hand, Russian-installed officials in Nova Kakhovka and Zaporizhzhia provided differing explanations, attributing the damage to Ukrainian attacks or prior structural damage.
The dam, built in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, supplied water to southeastern Ukraine and the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. It also played a crucial role in providing cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest facility of its kind.
