Putin Claims Ukraine Offensive Has Been Unsuccessful

President Vladimir Putin speaking in a televised meeting with military bloggers. Reuters reports Putin stating that "the goals of Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine might evolve with the situation, but that their fundamental character would not change." Says that Ukraine's counteroffensive is 'large scale', that it 'goes in different directions', and 'continues as we speak'. Claims that 'Ukraine has not been successful in any areas', and that the Ukrainian forces 'have suffered big losses' alleging that they are '10 times greater' than the losses suffered by Russia.

• Following images purported to show Russian forces having captured a German-made Leopard II tank from Ukrainian troops, Putin claims that Ukraine has lost 25/30% of the vehicles supplied to it from abroad.
• Goes on to claim that the breach in the Kakhovka dam that has flooded large areas of Kherson oblast was caused by Ukraine, claiming that Kyiv fired rockets from HIMARS systems at the dam.
• Given that the Ukrainian counteroffensive remains in its early stages, it remains too soon to judge as to its relative success. Yevgeny Prighozin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, has given a relatively nuanced view of the counteroffensive, stating that, "Any offensive and its results must be evaluated after the enemy's offensive potential has been exhausted. As far as I understand, Ukraine's offensive potential is far, far from exhausted. It will take a month and a half or two, and we will have to decide whether they have achieved their result or not. "