Shoigu says Russia is pushing Ukrainian forces westwards

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that the army was pushing Ukrainian forces westwards.
But comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukrainian military sources disputed some of Shoigu’s assertions that Moscow’s troops had seized control of a number of localities along the eastern Ukrainian front.
The reports from Ukraine suggested its forces had inflicted heavy losses in a attack by Russian tanks and armoured vehicles. Shoigu, quoted by Russian media at a meeting of commanders, said that Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive had proved to be a failure and Kyiv’s forces had since tried to gain a foothold on various fronts but had not achieved their goals.
Shoigu said Russian forces had captured 403 sq km (156 sq miles) of territory since the New Year and secured control over five towns and villages in eastern Ukraine in March.