MOSCOW (Reuters) – The general in charge of Russian troops in Ukraine briefed President Vladimir Putin on how his forces repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, one of his subordinates said on Thursday .
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier on Thursday that Russian forces resisted fierce attempts by Ukrainian troops to break through the frontline in Zaporizhzhia and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
Reuters could not independently verify Shoigu’s battlefield account and there was no immediate comment on the situation from Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, had briefed Putin on the nighttime battle on Thursday morning, Russian Colonel General Alexander Romanchuk said in a video clip released by the Defense Ministry.
Romanchuk said attacking Ukrainian forces encountered serious problems in a Russian minefield, that Russia used bombers to repel them, and alleged that Russian forces destroyed three German-made Leopard tanks.
(Reporting by Reuters reporters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)