Russian forces repelled a major Ukrainian counterattack in the southern part of the Donetsk region, where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers were killed, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced today.

According to the announcement of the Russian ministry, the Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale attack on Sunday morning, with six motorized infantry battalions and two tank divisions.

“On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale attack on five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. “The enemy’s goal was to split our defense in the most vulnerable, in his opinion, sector of the front,” he adds.

Russian forces killed 250 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed 16 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, according to the same statement, which highlighted that the Chief of the General Staff of National Defense, General Valery Gerasimov, was in the area, leading Moscow’s forces that participate in the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

“Special military operation” is the term the Kremlin uses to describe the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows military vehicles being attacked from the air.

So far there is no official reaction from Kiev to the announcement of the Russian Defense Ministry.

It remains unclear whether this particular attack marks the start of the announced Ukrainian counter-offensive to liberate territories occupied by Russian troops.