MOSCOW. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Ukrainian forces have lost over 6,500 troops, 26 planes and seven helicopters over the past month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The enemy has suffered substantial losses despite the unprecedented military assistance from Western countries. In the first month of this year alone, the losses stood at over 6,500 troops, 26 planes, seven helicopters, and 208 unmanned aerial vehicles," Shoigu said at a teleconference on Tuesday.
Ukrainian forces lost 341 tanks and other kinds of armored vehicles, as well as 40 multiple rocket launchers over the past month, he said.
"Being aware that Russia cannot be defeated by military means, the Ukrainian leadership continues to resort to criminal actions intimidating civilians in the new Russian constituent territories. The Ukrainian Armed Forces strike upon residential areas, hospitals and areas of concentration of civilians, and perpetrate terror attacks on state and social facilities," Shoigu said.
The Ukrainian side refused to cease fire on Orthodox Christmas, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted intensive attacks on those days, he said.
"In all, the enemy mounted over 550 artillery and mortar attacks. Russian forces returned fire and suppressed Ukrainian artillery," Shoigu said.