Moscow, Aug 4 (EFE).- The Ukrainian Army has suffered more than 43,000 casualties since the start of its counteroffensive two months ago, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Since the start of the so-called “counter-offensive,” the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 43,000 soldiers in June-July, the statement underlined.

This figure does not include mercenaries evacuated to Ukrainian hospitals and foreigners, the ministry added.

It also excludes soldiers that were neutralized in long-range high-precision strikes in rear areas, it further said.

Two weeks ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated that more than 26,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died since the start of the counteroffensive on June 4.

According to the Russian military, in the last two months, 25 German Leopard tanks, 7 French AMX tanks and 21 US Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, among other equipment and armored vehicles, were destroyed. EFE

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