Russia points uncommon denial of “pointless losses” by brigade in Ukraine By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – Russia’s defence ministry took the bizarre step on Monday of denying studies by Russian navy bloggers {that a} naval infantry unit had misplaced lots of of males in a fruitless offensive in japanese Ukraine, the state-owned RIA information company stated.

It stated the ministry had rejected the bloggers’ assertions that the one hundred and fifty fifth marine brigade of the Pacific Fleet had suffered “excessive, pointless losses in individuals and tools”.

Quite the opposite, in the middle of 10 days the unit had superior 5 km (over 3 miles) into Ukrainian defensive positions southwest of Donetsk, RIA quoted the ministry as saying.

It particularly denied that the brigade’s commanders had proven incompetence.

“As a result of competent actions of the unit commanders, the losses of marines for the given interval don’t exceed 1% of fight energy, and seven% wounded, a major a part of whom have already returned to obligation,” it stated.

The uncommon denial recommended the studies had touched a uncooked nerve at a degree within the battle’s ninth month when Russian forces are beneath heavy strain in partly occupied areas of Ukraine that Moscow has proclaimed as its personal territory – actions denounced as unlawful by Kyiv, the West and most nations of the United Nations.

Russian navy bloggers, a few of whom command audiences of half one million or extra on social media, have change into more and more essential of the failings of Moscow’s generals since Ukraine recaptured massive components of the northeast of the nation in September.