Russia's Shoigu says Moscow exhausting Ukrainian army

Russia claims it's exhausting Ukraine's army in 20-month conflict. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited east Ukraine, where soldiers reported heavy Ukrainian artillery fire. Neither side has made significant gains and the conflict is approaching a winter stalemate. Zelensky said Kyiv disrupted Russian attacks from Black Sea and Crimea.

Russia claimed on October 25 it was exhausting Ukraine's army, 20 months into a conflict in which neither side has made recent significant gains.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made the comments during a visit to east Ukraine, the Defence Ministry said on October 25.

"The situation today suggests the enemy has fewer and fewer opportunities. And they will continue to be reduced, thanks exclusively to your combat work," Mr. Shoigu told Russian soldiers.

He was also filmed smiling and laughing when a Russian soldier told him Ukrainian troops were "in a panic".

It has been months since either Russia or Ukraine made a significant territorial gain in the 20-month conflict, as losses continue to mount. Analysts say the conflict is approaching a winter stalemate.

The Defence Ministry did not say when Shoigu's visit to Russia's "Vostok" — or East — command post took place.

In a rare admission, it also quoted soldiers telling Mr. Shoigu that heavy Ukrainian artillery fire was having an effect.