In a recent briefing for foreign attachés, Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, revealed that the main task for the Russian military in 2023 is to repel the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive. Gerasimov stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had planned to defeat Russian forces and cut off their land corridor to Crimea. He noted that the Ukrainian brigades were trained by Western forces. Gerasimov also disclosed that the Ukrainians had intended to block the town of Melitopol and then advance towards the coast of the Sea of Azov, Mariupol, and the Crimea border. However, this plan failed.
The Chief of the General Staff stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost approximately 160,000 soldiers in the past six months.
On December 21, Gerasimov announced that Ukraine’s counteroffensive on the front had failed.
Furthermore, he revealed that since the start of the special military operation, Russian forces have destroyed around 1,500 important military targets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using long-range weapons.
Gerasimov also mentioned that NATO is increasing its presence in the Arctic and infrastructure near Russia’s borders.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin advised Gerasimov not to rush in taking control of the town of Kryinka in the Kherson region.
