Zelensky ridicules Shoigu’s claim that Russian is intentionally slowing its offensive in Ukraine
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Russia's war against Ukraine - the main events of May 25
In a Telegram post on May 24, Zelensky said Russia was trying to make excuses for its military failure in Ukraine.
Read also: Ukrainian intelligence chief says Russia only has resources for 12 months of ‘normal war’
“Today, another absolutely abnormal statement was made by Russia – that they are deliberately slowing down offensive actions,” Zelensky said.
“Well, after three months of searching for explanations for why they failed to break Ukraine in three days, they have failed to come up with anything better than to claim that they planned it that way.”
Read also: Top Russian officials served with charges, Ukraine's prosecutors say
The Ukrainian leader said that after the since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the enemy had lost almost 30,000 personnel, over 200 aircraft, and a large number of tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment.
“And they want to cover this up with a lie that they are not fighting at full force,” said Zelensky.
“Pathetic. The time will come when they themselves admit it.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on May 24 said that the pace of advance of the Russian military in Ukraine had been “deliberately” slowed down.
“Of course, this slows down the pace of the offensive, but this is being done deliberately in order to avoid civilian casualties,” he said.
Indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces since the beginning of the Russia’s full-scale invasion is estimated by Ukraine to have caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties, including the killing of over 200 children.
