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UKRAINE claims it has killed or captured 800 troops, destroyed 30 tanks, and shot down seven warplanes as their troops launched a bloody resistance against the Russians.
Kyiv’s defence ministry issued the bullish assessment of the first day’s fighting amid fears that the capital could fall within 96 hours.
Russia suffered heavy losses on the first day of fighting[/caption]
A fighter jet crashed in flames and set fire to houses in Kyiv overnight[/caption]
A Russian air force AN-26 crashed near Voronezh, one of a number of aircraft lost. Russia said it suffered technical failure[/caption]
Russian troops surrendered or deserted within hours of the attack starting[/caption]
It came as Russian forces assaulted yesterday on all fronts as they attempted a lightning strike of Ukraine.
Putin’s objective is believed to be to seize Kyiv and oust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy so he can install a compliant puppet regime.
Ukrainian forces however fought fiercely – repelling a number of attacks as they pushed back against Putin’s forces.
Pictures showed destroyed Russian vehicles littering the roadside, dead Russian soldiers, and captured Russian troops.
And while there question marks over the accuracy of Kyiv’s figures, UK intelligence agrees that Russia suffered heavy losses and made no meaningful gains on day one.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Kremlin “hasn’t taken any of its major objectives” after facing much fiercer resistance than expected.
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He said its forces are already “behind timetable” and have lost more than 450 men as well as tanks, armour, fighter jets and helicopters.
The former army captain said Putin had been given a “bloody nose” by Ukraine, which had showed his army is “not at all invincible”.
He also mocked the country’s Spetsnaz special forces, pointing out they failed to take a key airport outside the capital Kyiv.
Ukraine’s defence ministry claimed it had captured or killed more than 800 Russian soldiers in the first 24 hours of fighting.
Officials said 30 tanks, 130 armoured vehicles, seven fighter jets and six helicopters were also wiped out.
It comes as:
- All eyes are on Kyiv with Putin’s forces expected to launch an assault on the city of 2.9million people
- Defiant Ukrainian soldiers are using UK missiles to fight off Putin’s invasion
- Kyiv’s troops managed to recapture a key airport after a botched helicopter assault by the Russians
- Russia managed to capture Chernobyl power plant – sparking fears of a new nuclear disaster
- At least 1,500 people have been arrested in Russia for protesting against the war in Ukraine
- Thousands of Brits are fleeing as 1million people are on the move in mass exodus from Ukraine
- Western sanctions are targeting Russian money as Boris Johnson branded Putin as a “bloodstained aggressor“
- Tom Tugendhat MP, chair of the foreign affairs committee, wrote in The Sun that Putin and his “band of thieves” must be punished
Mr Wallace said morale is low in the Russian army and large numbers of troops surrendered or deserted within hours of the attack starting.
There have been reports that Kremlin soldiers on the frontline didn’t realise they’d be fighting Ukrainians and have been hesitant to engage.
The Defence Secretary said the UK’s assessment is that Putin “intends to invade the whole” country and replace the government.
Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates
He added: “Our assessment is that Russia has not taken any of its major objectives. In fact, it is behind its hoped for timetable.
“They’ve lost over 450 personnel, a significant number of tanks and armoured vehicles, three fighter jets at least, and a number of helicopters.
“Russia with its Spetsnaz – its so-called elite – hasn’t even been able to take an airport.
“If you looked at the massive odds that Russian posed before they started this you would’ve thought they’d have done it all in 24 hours.
“No one would have thought they would have failed to take a single one of their objectives which is where we’re at now.
Ukrainians are slowing the invasion using British and American anti-tank missiles[/caption]
A downed Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter on the first day of fighting[/caption]
Ukrainian forces captured Russian troops yesterday[/caption]
“That’s contrary to great Russian claims and President Putin’s vision that somehow the Ukrainians would be liberated and flocking to his cause.
“He got that completely wrong. The Ukrainians are fighting and they are fighting bravely. President Putin is not getting it the way he wishes.”
The Defence Secretary accused the Russians of indiscriminately shelling residential areas overnight as part of an escalation of violence.
He also predicted even fiercer Ukrainian defence in urban battles, with troops thinking “let them come into the cities and then whack them”.
Mr Wallace repeated his remarks that the Russian President has “gone full tonto” and said he can’t be reasoned with as he’s so “deeply irrational”.
He insisted the Kremlin chief has been planning the invasion for more than a year and no amount of Western diplomacy could’ve stopped it.
The Defence Secretary said: “He’s not doing something that’s logical, he’s doing something that’s about his ego and legacy.
“Many of us do think he’s in a position that’s beyond logic. No one else in their right mind would do what we are seeing today.
“No one else would impose their will on another sovereign country with all sorts of concocted conspiracies and very bizarre readings of history.”
Mr Wallace also pointed out that protests against the war have broken out in 56 Russian cities despite a brutal crackdown by the regime.
He said: “There are some brave Russians out there who realise they don’t want this in their name either.”
It comes as a Russian jet was reportedly shot down in a fireball over Kyiv with Kremlin forces preparing to besiege the city of 2.9million people.
Explosions were heard overnight as Moscow’s forces are now just 20 miles from the capital after yesterday’s full scale invasion.
Ukrainians have been warned they now face their “hardest day” with an expected all-out offensive by the Russians.
Some 10,000 guns have been handed out to residents and general mobilisation has been ordered in a bid to protect Kyiv.
At least 137 Ukrainians are already dead across the country at the hands of Putin’s forces after the assault began at 3.30am on Thursday.
The capital city faces an uncertain future today as it comes under attack from air, land and sea by Russia.
US intelligence now fears Putin could topple the Kyiv in just 96 hours as Russian forces move within just 20 miles after seizing nearby Chernobyl.
Ukrainians remain defiant and have put up a staunch resistance to the Russian invaders.
However, they find themselves facing an uphill struggle as Putin brings his massive military to bear against his neighbour.
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