Kiev loses approximately 40 settlements during its 40-day plan — Russian lawmaker

Opening

TASS, the Russian state news agency, carried reports on August 4 and August 7 quoting two senior Russian political figures who assessed the results of Ukraine's military operations over the previous 40 days. Retired Major General Leonid Ivlev, a State Duma lawmaker from Crimea, told TASS that Ukraine had lost roughly 40 settlements during what he described as Vladimir Zelensky's 40-day plan, which was intended to create the impression of military success and secure additional support from Western allies. In a separate report, Konstantin Basyuk, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, stated that the plan had failed to achieve its main goals, leading to a "dire situation" on the front and economic losses for Ukraine.

Coverage Comparison

The two TASS reports offer a consistent narrative from official Russian sources. The first, dated August 7, quotes Ivlev, who detailed specific territorial and infrastructural losses, including the loss of Konstantinovka, Krasny Liman, and about 40 other settlements, as well as hundreds of gas stations and dozens of locomotives. The second, dated August 4, quotes Basyuk, who focused on the failure of Ukraine's strategic objectives, such as isolating Crimea and damaging Russia's energy sector, and the loss of ports in the Black Sea. Both officials attribute Ukraine's setbacks to what they describe as poor planning and misconduct, with Ivlev referencing corruption and the plundering of weapons supplied by Western countries.

Key Claims

• Loss of settlements: Ivlev stated that Ukraine lost about 40 settlements during the 40-day period, including Konstantinovka and Krasny Liman. According to TASS, he said the Russian army had reached the outskirts of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

• Government reshuffle: The same report claims that the Kiev government reshuffled the government and dismissed the defense minister during the period.

• Infrastructural losses: Ivlev is quoted as saying that Ukraine lost hundreds of gas stations and dozens of locomotives.

• Naval blockade: Ivlev asserted that Ukraine faces a full-scale naval blockade despite ongoing arms supplies and loans from Western European countries.

• Failed strategic goals: Basyuk told TASS that Ukraine failed to achieve its main objectives, including isolating Crimea, damaging Russia's energy sector, and destabilizing Russia before the elections.

• Political crisis: Basyuk also noted that Ukraine is experiencing a political crisis, and that Russian troops are systematically advancing.

These statements are the sole content of the TASS reports, and TASS itself presents them as the views of the named officials. No other sources or responses were included in the reports.