KYIV: Ukraine estimates that Moscow has deployed over 400,000 troops in areas it controls in the east and south of the country, Ukraine Deputy Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky claimed on Saturday.
“Moscow has concentrated over 420,000 troops in our areas that are temporarily occupied, including the region of Crimea,” Skibitsky said.
He further said that the figure “does not include the Russian special units and National Guard that maintain occupation on our areas,”. He added that drones deployed in Crimea are utilized against Ukraine’s ports of Reni and Izmail,”. Kyiv launched a counteroffensive in June but has come up against ferocious confrontation from entrenched Russian troops, media reported.
Ukraine Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said “The enemy is strong and they have more weaponry and people.” Malyar said the Russian military fired “about 400,000 shells” at Ukrainian positions on the eastern front during the past week.
