“Mr Shoigu said, adding that 71 Russian troops died in the fighting”
Yeah, 71 dead while inflicting over 3,700 casualties isn’t even approaching the borders of believability. Maybe if we are talking British infantrymen fighting Zulus armed with spears, but not two modern armies facing each other.
Long range stand off missiles, massive artillery, air support supports the Russian claims…. Available video footage paints the same picture.