Russia Forced To Acknowledge Casualties: UK
London, Feb 28: The UK’s Ministry of Defence gave an intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine on Monday, that clearly indicated casualties have been suffered by Vladimir Putin’s forces in the past five days since Russia mounted attack on Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged on Sunday only Russian soldiers have been killed and wounded, without giving any numbers.
“The bulk of Putin’s ground forces remain more than 30km to the north of Kyiv their advance having been slowed by Ukrainian forces defending Hostomel airfield, a key Russian objective for day one of the conflict, a BBC report quoted the Ministry sources as saying.
“Heavy fighting continues around Chernihiv and Kharkiv, however, both cities remain under Ukrainian control. “Logistical failures and staunch Ukrainian resistance continue to frustrate the Russian advance. “Despite continued attempts to suppress details of the conflict from the Russian population, the Russian Armed Forces has for the first time been forced to acknowledge suffering casualties”.
Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during Russia’s invasion, including 14 children. Kyiv said an additional 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded. Kyiv’s statement on Sunday, however, did not give any information on casualties among Ukraine’s armed forces.
Russia has claimed that its troops are targeting only Ukrainian military facilities and says that Ukraine’s civilian population is not in danger. Russia has not released any detail information on casualties among its troops. Russia on Monday reduced offensive pace, still trying to develop success it appeared on ground.
In its morning update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that “in violation of international humanitarian law, the occupiers insidiously launched a missile strike on residential buildings in the cities of Zhytomyr and Chernihiv.”
Yet, the General Staff added that “all attempts by the Russians to achieve their goals have failed”. As the Ukraine-Russia war continues, the UN Security Council has voted for the 193-member General Assembly to hold an emergency session on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday.
