Ukraine launches counter-attacks against Russian forces

ANKARA

Ukraine announced on Wednesday that its forces have launched counter-attacks on Russian troops, claiming that the death toll among opposing forces has risen to 13,800 since the war began on Feb. 24.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to deliver a devastating blow to groups of occupiers' troops in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and launched a counter-attack in some areas," the General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook.

The Ukrainian Air Force launched missile and bomb raids against Russian forces, with nine air assaults carried out on military convoys and groups of troops, it added.

In addition to the 13,800 Russian troops reportedly killed since the war began, the statement claimed that "our forces destroyed 430 main battle tanks, 1,375 various types of armored combat vehicles, 190 artillery systems, (and) 70 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS)."

According to the statement, Ukrainian forces destroyed 84 Russian warplanes, 108 helicopters, and 11 operational and tactical level UAVs, as well as other combat systems and vehicles.

Ukrainian figures of Russian casualties run far higher than US estimates. A week ago, a US official said anywhere from 3,500 to 6,000 Russian troops may have been killed.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 691 civilians have been killed and 1,143 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

More than 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.