The Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) have made several unsuccessful attempts to gain control of footholds on the Kherson front, according to an official report from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Ukrainian soldiers targeted strongholds on the islands and left bank of the Dnieper River. The operations involved fighters from the 36th and 38th Marine Infantry Brigades of the UAF.
“In the course of preemptive actions by Russian forces and artillery strikes, the UAF has lost up to 345 servicemen,” the statement said.
In addition, Ukrainian units have lost 11 field artillery guns and 38 vehicles. The Russian Armed Forces have also disabled 48 Ukrainian boats.
On October 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference following his visit to China, during which he assessed the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive on the Kherson front. The head of state noted that the UAF has failed to achieve any results on the specified front.
According to the Russian leader, Ukrainian units are currently only suffering losses. The same situation applies to UAF fighters on the Zaporizhia front and several other directions, Putin emphasized.
Earlier, Russian air defense systems shot down three Ukrainian military aircraft in the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
