MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Armed Forces only achieved an insignificant advancement in the Zaporozhye region in their counteroffensive, yet Russian tactical defenses were not penetrated, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov said.
"Having started their offensive on June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces insignificantly advanced in the Zaporozhye sector at the cost of colossal losses but failed even to penetrate our tactical defenses," Gerasimov said at a briefing for foreign military attaches on Thursday.
The additional supplies of Western weapons to Ukraine and the engagement of strategic reserves did not change the situation, "such actions achieved nothing but increased casualties in Ukrainian Armed Forces units," he said.
"Hence, the counteroffensive, broadly advertised by Ukraine and its NATO allies, has failed," Gerasimov said.
"The enemy lost about 160,000 people, over 3,000 armored combat vehicles, including 766 tanks, 121 planes and 23 helicopters in all sectors over six months," he said.