June 14, 2023

On June 13 President Vladimir Putin met with Russian war correspondents at the Kremlin.

He outlined that major goals specified for the SMO are fundamental for Russia, and they are not changed.

Commenting on demilitarization, the President said: “We are dealing with this gradually, methodically. What are the Armed Forces of Ukraine fighting with? Do they produce Leopards or Bradleys or the F-16s they haven’t received yet? They don’t produce a thing. The Ukrainian defence industry will soon cease to exist altogether. What do they produce? Ammunition is delivered, equipment is delivered and weapons are delivered – everything is delivered. You won't live long like that, you won't last. So, the issue of demilitarisation is raised in very practical terms.”

In response to a question on Ukrainian ‘counteroffensive’ Putin explained:” This is a large-scale counteroffensive, which uses, as I recently said publicly, reserves that had been stockpiled to this end. It started on June 4. … The enemy was not successful in any sector. They suffered big losses. …of all personnel losses – and they are approaching a number that can be called catastrophic – the structure of these losses is unfavorable for them. Because as we know, losses can be sanitary or irretrievable. Usually, I am afraid I may be off a little, but [ Ukrainian] irretrievable losses are around 25 percent, maximum 30 percent while their losses are almost 50/50. This is my first point. Second, if we look at irretrievable losses, clearly, the defending side suffers fewer losses, but this ratio of 1 to 10 is in our favour. Our losses are one-tenth of the losses of the Ukrainian forces.

The situation is even more serious with armour.

This is only what we are seeing. There are also losses that we don’t see. They are inflicted by long-range precision weapons at masses of personnel and equipment. So, in reality Ukraine has sustained heavier losses. By my calculations, these losses are about 25 or maybe 30 percent of the equipment supplied from abroad. It seems to me they would agree with this if they count objectively.

… As for our losses – let the Defence Ministry talk about other indicators and personnel – I said they lost over 160 tanks and we lost 54 tanks, some of which can be restored and repaired.

[On June 14 Russian MoD additionally announced that AFU have lost 7,500 servicemen killed or wounded during their ‘counteroffensive, with the tally only including service members on the front line, and not those struck by Russian high-precision missiles and airstrikes deeper into Ukrainian territory. Russian soldiers seized a German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank with working, unswitched engine and ammunition and US-produced Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.]’

Touching upon the destruction the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the President said it is clear who is to blame – Ukraine was working at this. AFU had targeted the Kakhovka HPP with HIMARS many times.

Reacting to a question about the activity of Polish mercenaries attacking Russian territory, Vladimir Putin admitted that Polish mercenaries are indeed fighting and they are suffering heavy losses. In fact, they are trying to hide them, but their losses are serious. It is a pity that they hide this from their population too. Mercenaries are being recruited – right in Poland, and in other countries, by the way.

Putin rejected any possibility to announce additional mobilization, by explaining that there is no need to do that because during previous mobilization Russia has already recruited 300,000 men, plus since last January recruited over 156,000 as contract soldiers and volunteers.

[These are several points from Putin’s remarks. The full transcript is available in at: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/71391]. The meeting lasted for 3,5 hours, including the closed-door seccion.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin