Ukraine blasts German BILD's false report of new Russian 'major offensive'
Photo: Russia's "major offensive" unlikely to happen (Getty Images)
Ukraine has denied reports published by Germany's BILD newspaper about a so-called new Russian offensive, informs Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation.
"'The Kremlin is planning a new offensive' — it's hard to find anything more absurd than the material in BILD. They have no understanding of the front line or what's happening there. They read Telegram channels, often Russian ones, and then write articles that get quoted here," Kovalenko said.
According to Kovalenko, the paper said its information came from Russia's General Staff, which he said immediately raises doubts about its reliability.
"Russian offensive operations haven't really stopped since last year. They continue to push steadily. There's no 'new offensive' as such — just deployment of reserves, shifts in tactics, attempts to send in assault groups along the border, provoke battles, and move reserves into the East," he said.
Kovalenko also noted that Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine's rear areas.
"This is happening because the goals on the front lines set by Putin last year have failed. The Russian army is simply trying to push forward with numbers. And even for that, they're having to make up numbers with North Koreans — as was the case in the Kursk region," he added.
BILD earlier reported that Russia's General Staff had presented Putin with a new offensive plan for the second half of the summer. The alleged proposal included pulling Russian troops from border areas and replacing them with North Korean soldiers to free up forces for the offensive.
Frontline situation
In the previous 24 hours, from July 12 to 13, Russian forces lost an additional 1,240 soldiers in battles against Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine also destroyed 49 artillery systems, 101 vehicles, and 263 drones.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia's total military losses have surpassed 1 million troops.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff has issued an updated report on the frontline situation across all directions.
