Russia Announces Significant Military Progress in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced today, Friday, that his country's forces have taken control of 28 Ukrainian towns and villages in May. Belousov stated during a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, that the Ukrainian army "withdrew between 8 to 9 kilometers in various significant sectors in the Kharkiv region." The Russian defense minister noted that Russia has controlled 880 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the year. He also mentioned that the total losses of the Ukrainian army in May amounted to 35,000 soldiers and 2,700 military equipment units. The defense minister did not address Russian losses but affirmed that Russia would achieve its objectives regarding the special operation in Ukraine.