London: 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.
Although Moscow remained tight-lipped on the numbers, Kyiv said 5,300 Russian personnel at war with Ukraine have been killed.
The Russian Defence 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," the UK Ministry said.
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 said that Ukraine's civilian population is not in danger.
Moscow has not released any detail information on casualties among its troops. But Kyiv released it with the foot note "Beat the occupier! Let's win together!" and listed: "The total estimated loss of the enemy from Thursday 5 am to Monday 6 am."
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, put out a long list of casualties suffered by Russia on its official Facebook page, : "Planes - 29, Helicopters- 29, Tanks - 191, Armored personnel vehicles - 816, Cannon- 74, Missile system BUK - 1, MLRS BM-21 "Grad" / MLRS BM-21 "Grad" - 21, Vehicles - 291 Fuel tanks - 60, UAV operational and tactical level / UAV operational and tactical level - 3, Ships / boats / Ship / boats - 2, Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 5, Personnel - approximately - 5,300 (to be specified)."
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.”
During the air-offensive operation, the enemy continued to inflict fire on military and civilian airfields, military command points (forces), air defence facilities, important critical infrastructure, settlements and units in defence areas.
In violation of international humanitarian law, the occupiers insidiously launched a missile strike on residential buildings in the cities of Zhytomyr and Chernihiv, the General staff said.
"At the same time, all attempts by the Russian invaders to achieve the goal of the military operation failed. "It is possible to successfully repel the attacks of battalion-tactical groups on the approaches, forcing the enemy to abandon the offensive. As of today (Monday), artillery fire of only one of the Ukrainian brigades destroyed more than 5 lines of enemy equipment and enemy manpower."
"The enemy is demoralized and bears heavy losses. Frequent cases of desertion and disobedience were noted. The enemy realized that propaganda and reality were different. The occupiers are afraid of us. Defenders of Ukraine continue to maintain a stable defence," the General Staff's statement said.
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. (UNI)
