ST. PETERSBURG, July 30. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces have recently been trying to attack Russian positions on foot, saving military equipment and being afraid of losing it, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters.
"There are some changes now. They (the Ukrainian command - TASS) bring people on armored vehicles to the front line, throw them out, and the equipment disappears immediately. Apparently, they are saving the equipment for fear of losing it. And they attack on foot, exposing people to the shelling of our tanks, artillery and so on," the president said.
The change in the Ukrainian tactics is "absolutely definitely" connected with the losses of armored vehicles, the president added. "At this point in time, since June 4 (the beginning of Ukraine's counteroffensive - TASS), I said [earlier], I think 405 tanks were lost - this is what we see. Now it's 415. And more than 1,300 units of armored vehicles of various classes," Putin said. He added that of the abovementioned equipment, "probably two-thirds is Western".
"Perhaps there is nothing to add here. Such active actions as there were two days ago are not observed now, although the losses in personnel are heavy. But that is because of the change in tactics. I'm not exaggerating. Personnel are being brought in, thrown out, equipment is disappearing, they are attacking on foot. But, of course, everywhere the enemy is stopped, thrown back," the head of state summed up.