Moscow: 16 Leopard tanks destroyed

The Russian army destroyed 16 German-made Leopard tanks. This is what the Russian news agency TASS wrote on the basis of statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu held a conference call with military leaders today.

In the southern directions of Donetsk and Zaporizhia alone, where Ukrainian armed formations launch unsuccessful attacks, Russian forces destroyed 15 aircraft, three helicopters and 920 pieces of armored vehicles, including 16 Leopard tanks. This is, in fact, 100 percent of the tanks of this type supplied by Poland and Portugal.

Shoigu said at the meeting that the Russian troops effectively continue to inflict damage on the enemy with firepower, significantly reducing its offensive potential. According to the minister, the Ukrainian forces have lost around 2,500 different heavy weapons since June 4. In addition, the Russian Air Defense Forces are said to have shot down 158 HIMARS missiles and 25 Storm Shadow missiles in the past month.

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Shoigu said: “The enemy has not achieved its goals in any sector of the front lines, and this is evidence of the skill of Russian fighters and the clear exaggeration of Western weapons, which it so promotes.”

According to Reuters, Shoigu also spoke for the first time today about Wagner’s rebellion to the exiled mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Shoigu said the aborted rebellion of the Wagner mercenary group had no effect on Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. According to Shoigu, Prigozhin’s plans to “destabilize Russia” failed because of the “loyalty” of his troops.

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