What about the first days of the Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian troops? On Monday evening, the Ukrainian president acknowledged that the operation was ” difficult but he asserted that his troops were advancing. This Tuesday, June 13, the Russian president said the opposite, claiming to have routed the Ukrainian army. But in response, kyiv and its allies claimed further territorial gains.
Faced with a small group of journalists, Vladimir Poutine claims a frank, honest exchange. The Russian president recognizes certain failures: a lack of preparation in the face of attacks carried out on Russian territory from Ukraine or even certain weapons which are lacking. But when it comes to the counter-offensive launched by Ukraine, he claims total victory. Within days, Ukraine would have already lost 25 or 30% “Equipment provided by Westerners, he says.
“Not only over 160 tanks were destroyed but also 360 infantry fighting vehicles. It’s not just equipment from NATO countries. There are also Soviet armored vehicles. But whether it’s the Bradleys or the Leopards, they burn just fine “, laughs the Russian president. The taunt targets American and German armor delivered to Ukraine. And to drive the point home, the Russian president is ironic about the very term of counter-offensive, while Ukraine has been preparing this assault for months.
► To read also: Ukraine: the counter-offensive is “difficult”, but the troops are “progressing”, according to Zelensky
During a visit to Washington, the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, judged that the support of the member countries of the Alliance for Ukraine is bearing fruit. “ Our support for Ukraine together is now making a difference on the battlefield right now, because the offensive is on and the Ukrainians are making progress, progress. It is still early “, he assures. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian army, for his part, affirmed that the operations are proceeding according to plan and that the Ukrainian army is advancing.
Russia denies responsibility for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam
Ukraine also claims that the Kakhovka dam was destroyed by Russia last week. The internal security services say they intercepted a call proving Russian responsibility. For the head of diplomacy of the European Union, ” everything seems to indicate that Russia is behind this destruction. But Moscow denies it, accusing kyiv. These accusations were taken up by Vladimir Putin, who received journalists specializing in defense issues.
“ They used Himar rockets deliberately and repeatedly to hit the Kakhovka Dam. Maybe they had some kind of factory there. I do not know. Maybe they added something insignificant once more – and the destruction began. We are not interested in these hypotheses, because the consequences are serious for the territories which we control and which are Russian. That’s the first thing “, explained Vladimir Putin.
“ And the secondcontinued the Russian President, I’m going to say a strange thing, but unfortunately the destruction of the dam disrupted their counter-offensive on this axis. why i say “Unfortunately” ? It is better for them to lead an offensive there. »
The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is expected at the Ukrainian power plant in Zaporijjia, this Wednesday, June 14. Rafael Grossi must inspect the site to see if this plant, occupied by the Russians, has been endangered by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper river.
► To read also: The underside of the fake news – The origin of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, fake news and fallacious arguments