The Ukrainian military claims to have eliminated more than 1,000 Russian soldiers in 24 hours of heavy fighting.
Described as the “deadliest day” for Moscow in its nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine, the attackers were reportedly pushed to their limits in an intensifying winter assault in the east.
Vladimir Putin’s army lost a total of 1,030 soldiers in one day despite sending thousands of freshly mobilized troops to the battlefield, according to the Ukrainian defense ministry.
Officials also revealed that defenders destroyed 14 Russian tanks and 28 armored personnel vehicles.
After the deadly winter assault, the total number of Russian soldiers killed in the conflict has reportedly risen to 133,000.
Ukraine also claims to have neutralized 3,245 Russian tanks, 6,443 armored personnel vehicles, 2,232 artillery systems, and 294 aircraft and helicopters since the start of the invasion in February last year.
Regrouping for ‘Revenge’
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Western allies that Russia is building up its forces to take “revenge.”
Moscow has suffered significant losses in the war, including $5 billion in weapons and equipment a month after launching the invasion.
Around 500,000 Russian troops are preparing for an attack in the coming weeks as the conflict nears its first anniversary.
Fears have also surfaced that Belarus could again be used as a launchpad for a new offensive in northern Ukraine.
“Officially, they announced 300,000, but when we see the troops at the borders, according to our assessments it is much more,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told French media.