The Russian Defense Minister said today that the resources of the Ukrainian military are “almost exhausted”as Kiev mounts an arduous counteroffensive to recapture Ukrainian territory held by Russian forces.

“Ukraine’s military resources are almost exhausted,” Sergei Shoigu told a security conference in Moscow, saying Kiev had failed to “achieve a result” despite the “full support” of the West.

The Russian minister emphasized thati the military campaign in Ukraine – as Moscow calls its invasion of Ukraine – now in its 18th month, has proved a “severe test” about the Russian military, but noted that Russia has managed to “significantly” increase its production of armored vehicles.

He added that the Western weapons delivered to Kiev have “nothing unique” and that they are not invulnerable to Russian weapons on the battlefield.

“We are ready to share our assessments of the weak points of Western equipment,” the Russian minister told international military officials attending the conference.

He thanked Russian soldiers who, he said, are fighting on the battlefield against “neo-Nazism,” following Kremlin rhetoric that claims the invasion of Ukraine is aimed at toppling a neo-Nazi regime.

At the 11th Moscow International Security Conference, organized by the Russian military and held near the capital, official guests are more than 800 visitors from 76 countries, but not from the West.