Ukrainian offensive makes ground but Russia claims to capture US-made vehicles

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 14 Jun 2023 by Alex Teddy

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On June 13 Ukraine said it was moving forward in Zaporizhzhia. There is evidence that Ukraine has made headway but it is modest. There is no sign of a breakthrough against very well-entrenched Russians. On June 13 Russia showed footage of its troops on Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicles and German-made Leopard tanks. They are in working order. It seems the Ukrainians abandoned them.  On June 13 Putin said that Russia should have been better prepared for incursions by Ukraine into Belgorod. He said this when he met with pro-war bloggers, some of whom have lacerated the top brass for incompetence. He said that air defense is being updated. Putin boasted of heavy Ukrainian casualties. Putin said that Ukraine has lost 160 tanks and 360 armored vehicles since June 6. This is very hard to believe since Ukraine has only about 800 tanks. He said Russian casualties were 10% of Ukrainian casualties. Putin claimed that Russia suffers from a lack of military kit, especially high-precision ammunition and UAVs. He explicitly disowned the notion that there is a second round of conscription coming up. He said 150,000 men have volunteered for the army in 2023. To induce them to join, they are paid more than men who were already in the army. This has caused jealously and tension.