Vladimir Putin’s defence chief makes embarrassing gaff on Ukraine losses | World News

Russia’s defence minister made an embarrassing mistake while bragging about the number of Ukrainian tanks his forces have destroyed.

Sergei Shoigu is in charge of defence at the Kremlin amid Russian president Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

But while sharing details of Ukrainian losses, he bizarrely claimed 6+6=11.

He said: ‘Losses are big [for Ukraine].

‘As a result of serious attacks in the Rabotyne direction they lost six tanks.

‌’In another direction, in Bakhmut, our guys, well, skillfully, I would say, with drones […] destroyed six more vehicles.

‌’So all together 11 armoured vehicles alone were destroyed.’

This blunder isn’t the only recent incident which has drawn attention to Russian forces.

Earlier this week satellite images showed the Kremlin is loading car tyres onto the wings of nuclear bomber planes to try and protect them from drone attacks.

It’s hoped the tyres will shield the planes from damage, after successful Ukrainian drone strikes at Russian air bases last December.

In another more recent attack, four Il-76 transporters were put out of action, with two aircraft beyond repair after being engulfed in flames.

Separately, Kyiv claimed to have damaged four Su-30 fighter jets, one MiG-29 fighter jet, two Pantsir-S1 close-range air defence systems and a radar linked to a long-range S-300 surface-to-air missile system in a strike in Kursk with aerial drones made of cardboard.

Air Force Major General Sergei Lipovoy said it was right to deploy the unconventional means.

‌He said: ‘To protect aircraft, like armoured vehicles, all means are good.

‘Protecting aircraft with rubber tyres is not a known method.

‘I assume that they are used as a short-term protection of our aircraft while preparing a more reliable shelter, including canopies.’

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