Kiev, Sep 5 (UNI) Ukrainian troops have lost more than 66,000 military and 7,600 weapons since the beginning of the counteroffensive, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"Since the beginning of the so-called offensive, enemy losses have exceeded 66,000 people and 7,600 weapons," Shoigu told at a meeting with senior defence officials.

Additionally, Russian air defence systems have shot down 159 HIMARS rockets, over 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles and 13 cruise missiles over the past month, the minister said.

"The Russian armed forces continue to destroy the military infrastructure of Ukraine with precision strikes.

Over the past month alone, 34 command posts of the Ukrainian armed forces ... were hit," Shoigu added.

UNI/SPUTNIK XC AKS