Russia Lost Record Number of Artillery Systems in June: Kyiv

Russia has lost its highest-ever number of artillery systems in a one-month period, according to Ukrainian officials.

An official post on X (formerly Twitter) from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine claimed that 1,415 Russian artillery systems were destroyed in June, which it said is a record since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia doesn't publish its military losses, and analysts are skeptical of reports released by both sides.

The post didn't clarify where the data used in the report originated, and Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment.

Kyiv also claimed that 1,160 artillery systems were destroyed in May. Ukraine's latest update puts Moscow's artillery losses at around 14,600.

The reported losses come as Ukraine also claimed Russia had suffered its second-highest monthly personnel loss in June, of 35,030 soldiers.

Last week, Ukraine's defense ministry reported that the Russian military had lost 12 tanks, 51 artillery systems and 71 vehicles within the space of 24 hours, as well as 27 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), two cruise missiles and 20 pieces of special equipment.

On Monday, Ukraine's defense ministry said Russia had lost over a thousand troops in a day. The British government estimated in May that total Russian causalities had likely reached half a million.

Ukraine's security service at the weekend published footage appearing to show the country's forces recapturing an outpost in the Black Sea from Russia two years ago, although Newsweek couldn't independently verify the video.

On Monday, Russia experienced widespread outages following Ukrainian drone barrages in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions overnight, according to a Telegram channel that claims links to Russia's security services.

Russia is seeking to strengthen its relations with anti-Western powers as it looks for allies to back its war in Ukraine.

Citing an unnamed senior U.S. official on Saturday, Middle East Eye reported that President Vladimir Putin was considering arming the Houthis in Yemen with anti-ship ballistic cruise missiles.

Separately, Pavel Muraveiko, chief of the general staff of Belarus' armed forces, warned on Sunday that the Eastern European country, which shares borders with Russia and Ukraine, is prepared to use nuclear weapons if its independence and sovereignty are threatened. Belarus is a close ally of Russia.

"We've learned how to handle these weapons. We know how to apply them confidently. We are able to do it. And you can be sure: we will do it if the sovereignty and independence of our country is threatened," Muraveiko said in an interview with local TV, state-owned Belarusian news agency BelTA reported.

Russia also maintains close economic ties with China and Putin has been strengthening his relationship with North Korea, adding to concerns in the West.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about the Russia-Ukraine war? Contact [email protected]