Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive

Russia has said that its forces thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive at five points along the front in the southern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

They claimed to have killed 250 troops and destroyed 16 tanks. Russia's defence ministry released a video of what it said showed several Ukrainian armoured vehicles in a field blowing up after being



hit.

Russia said Ukraine had attacked with six mechanised and two tank battalions yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether or not the reported attack represented the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive which it has been promising since months. There has been no comment from Ukraine as it called for a silence.