Moscow's military reserves may be smaller than initially assumed - German defence minister

FILE PHOTO: German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin, Germany September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia has suffered significant troop and equipment losses in Ukraine and the impact of Kyiv's latest counter-offensive may reveal Moscow's military reserves to be smaller than assumed, Germany's defence minister told Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the setback suffered by his forces this month. Ukrainian officials say 9,000 sq km (3,400 sq miles) have been retaken, territory about the size of the island of Cyprus.