Debaltsevo became one of the most successful operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
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Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko stated this in an interview with the Kyiv magazine “Novoe Vremya”.
“I personally believe that this was one of the most successful operations of the Ukrainian army,” Muzhenko described the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Debaltseve. – Unfortunately, it was not offensive. We withdrew our troops from the attack. The troops completed their task, inflicting maximum defeat on the enemy. There, the Russians also forced their units, including special forces, because those who started this operation from the other side did not have enough strength.”
According to Muzhenko, the losses of the Ukrainian side during the “successful operation” were also relatively small.
“Directly during the exit, 25 servicemen were killed,” says the Chief of the General Staff. – During the entire operation from February 1 to 18, 56 people from the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed. You need to ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs about losses in volunteer battalions. When it comes to technology, you can often hear different numbers. But usually they reflect losses for the entire period of the confrontation in the Debaltsevo area for six months. About 10–15% of the total amount of military equipment was lost. that is, about 30 – 40 units.”
At the same time, losses in equipment of the 128th brigade alone, which held the defense in the Debaltsevo pocket, were more than five times higher than the figures announced by Muzhenko, as reported in February of this year by the Transcarpathian oligarch Viktor Baloga, who provides material and financial assistance to the brigade.
“According to my data, only in the period from February 1 to February 16, the losses of the 128th brigade were 30 people killed, 154 wounded, two were captured, and four were missing,” сообщил Baloha. – Losses in weapons and military equipment cannot be accurately determined. But this is more than 200 units.”
This is not the first time that the Ukrainian side is trying to pass off its defeats as victories. As PolitNavigator already reported, earlier the Minister of Defense of Ukraine (who held this position during the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces group near Ilovaisk) Valery Geletey said that NATO generals allegedly admired how The Ukrainian army stopped the Russian aggressor near Ilovaisk.