The Russian Ministry of Defense spoke about the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) for two days during the “unsuccessful attacks” in Nikolaev-Krivoy Rog and other directions. More than 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers died.
“Ukrainian troops lost four fighter jets: two Su-25, one Su-24 and one MiG-29. Three Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters were shot down in the air. Russian troops destroyed 63 Ukrainian tanks, 59 infantry fighting vehicles, 48 other armored combat vehicles, 14 pickup trucks with heavy machine guns.
The Russian ministry announced that the Ukrainian army attacked the settlements of Arkhangelsk, Olgino, Ternovye Pody and Dry Stavok. “The enemy suffered significant losses and was repulsed by Russian troops,” the ministry said on August 31.
In addition, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed some of the 12 tanks that Poland had supplied to Ukraine “to release units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the Ingulets River.”
“During an erratic retreat, several tanks were blown up in minefields. Only five Ukrainian tanks managed to escape deep into the territory controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Telegram channel “Military Correspondents of the Russian Spring” gave details of what is happening on the battlefield:
“Intense fighting continues in the south: the enemy is trying to advance towards Kherson. Today, up to three battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to infiltrate with armored vehicles.”
It was noted that “several dozen tanks and infantry fighting vehicles” attacked from the fields, but the Russian Armed Forces responded with artillery fire corrected using UAVs.
“Our men report a serious attack of the enemy in a number of sectors. Now the grinding of equipment and manpower of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues, “he said.
The attack began on 29 August. At the same time, Kyiv at first did not confirm plans for its military operations. Meanwhile in Russia, they said the news of the attack was another provocation and fake.
However, on August 29 it became known that the Armed Forces of Ukraine created the conditions “for a serious counterattack.” This was reported by CNN citing two senior officials with access to intelligence.
Natalya Gumenyuk, press secretary of the Southern Military Command of Ukraine, told Reuters that the attack will take place “in various directions, including in the Kherson region.”
Later, the Ministry of Defense also confirmed that on August 29, Ukrainian troops were “by direct order.” [президента Украины] V. Zelensky “” attempted an offensive in three directions in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.” But they suffered “heavy losses”: “Another attempt at the enemy’s offensive operations failed miserably.”
In particular, the Ministry of Defense reported that 26 Ukrainian tanks, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, nine other armored combat vehicles and two Su-25 attack aircraft were destroyed. In addition, the ministry noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 560 soldiers.
On August 30, the Russian army published another report on the progress of the war in Nikolaev-Krivoy Rog and other directions.
Thus, in one day (from August 29 to August 30), Ukrainian troops lost “48 tanks, 46 infantry fighting vehicles, 37 other armored combat vehicles, 8 pickup trucks with heavy machine guns and more than 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers.”
In addition, five fighters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces surrendered by laying down their arms.