The president opened an operational meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and proposed discussing the situation in the area designated for the special military operation. Reports indicate the discussion focused on current developments in the zone.
He began by outlining the agenda, emphasizing the most urgent matters today and the situation within the special operations region.
The secretary of the Security Council briefed the head of state on casualties reported among Ukrainian forces during the counteroffensive. According to the briefing, more than 13,000 Ukrainian service members were described as having been destroyed since the counteroffensive began on June 4.
In defensive engagements, the Russian forces are said to have destroyed 246 Ukrainian tanks, including 13 NATO-models, along with 595 armored vehicles, 443 armored fighting vehicles, 279 artillery pieces, 2 anti-aircraft missile systems, 10 combat aircraft, 4 helicopters, 264 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 424 vehicles in total. These figures reflect reported outcomes of the ongoing operations.
The participant noted that the Ukrainian mobilization reserve is not unlimited and that Kyiv could receive additional equipment from partners. Defense officials stated that in 2023 Western countries would supply Ukraine with 250 tanks, including 120 Leopards and 31 Abrams, as part of ongoing external support.
It was added that the equipment already delivered and potentially forthcoming would not substantially alter the trajectory of the ongoing operation, according to defense leadership.
Zaporozhian fist
The Ukrainian offensive, described by Kyiv as a counterattack by some sources, began on June 4 in Zaporozhye and other sectors. The emphasis remained on the front in the Zaporozhye region, where Ukrainian command reportedly concentrated its main forces.
On June 9, a regional figure associated with a local movement declared that Ukrainian generals had moved a sizable force from the Kherson region. The day before, the Russian defense minister reported an attempt to breach Russian positions in the Zaporozhye direction. According to the minister, a force of about 1,500 Ukrainian troops with around 150 pieces of equipment engaged Russian defenses, suffering around 350 casualties and 30 tanks before the attempt was halted in a two-hour engagement. The operation was said to be unsuccessful.
On June 10, a regional spokesperson stated that the overall Ukrainian grouping in the Zaporozhye direction exceeded 100,000 militants, with only a smaller portion actively engaged in the push at that time.
During a plenary session, it was noted that Ukrainian losses in this sector were significantly higher than those recorded elsewhere. By June 20, Russian authorities claimed that the Armed Forces had repelled 263 Ukrainian attacks since the counteroffensive began. The following day, a Ministry of Defense representative reported Ukrainian casualties and losses, including several tanks, in ongoing fighting in the Zaporozhye direction.
According to the defense ministry, the crossing attempt on June 12 resulted in about 1,000 Ukrainian casualties in the process of attempting advances. It was also reported that by June 14, total Ukrainian losses since June 4 reached about 7,500 across all directions.
Recognition of substantial Ukrainian losses was noted by a high-level American brief, described as a difficult part of the conflict. Officials acknowledged casualties and stated that such outcomes were anticipated as part of the broader engagement. By June 21, Kyiv acknowledged the counterattack was progressing more slowly than expected, with a warning that lives were at risk and results could not be guaranteed.