Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called for military equipment to be quickly sent to the front lines in Ukraine in a video published Thursday by the ministry’s press service, CNN reports.

Minister of Defense of Russia Sergey Shoigu and Minister of Defense of Belarus Viktor KhreninPhoto: Maksym Guchek / Sputnik / Profimedia

“Today the enemy tried to advance. In just two hours of the first battle, Russian troops destroyed 30 tanks and 10 BMPs. This is in two hours of fighting, since the morning. That’s why this equipment is needed, let’s hurry,” Shoigu said, referring to his previous statements that Russian forces repelled four attacks overnight in the southern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

Shoigu said this during a visit to the troops of the Western Military District of Russia, where he inspected the preparation of equipment and weapons for sending to storage bases.

“Shoigu ordered to shorten the time limits for accepting equipment from enterprises and to prepare it as soon as possible for transfer to units of the Russian Armed Forces,” the message reads.

“Shoigu paid special attention to high-quality training and timely delivery of ammunition and missiles to units participating in a special military operation, as well as in combat training,” the report said.

Ukraine launched a long-awaited counteroffensive, and fierce fighting began in the Zaporizhzhia region on Wednesday. From the Russian side, the first footage of a Ukrainian mechanized offensive with Western tanks and armored vehicles appeared, as well as with potential losses at the front.

The Washington Post writes on Thursday that the Ukrainian army has launched a long-awaited counteroffensive in the war with Russia, opening a decisive stage in the confrontation with Moscow’s forces. The first fierce battles are taking place in the Zaporizhzhia region and would begin already on Wednesday.

Despite the fact that the Ukrainians have not yet published the photo, footage from the anti-combat camp, taken by Russian drones, showing the attack of the Ukrainian mechanized army in the area of ​​Malaya Tokmachka appeared on social networks.

Several types of armored vehicles are visible in the images, and OSINT commentators have identified Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 tanks, as well as Bradley M2A2 or M113 armored vehicles.

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