Putin’s troops are weakened
Kiev reports that Russian soldiers have deserted
02/27/2022, 09:36 am
The Ukrainian military repels the attacks on the capital Kiev with all their might. Meanwhile, there are reports that the Russian troops are not only having problems with the supply of ammunition and fuel – the morale of some soldiers is also crumbling. However, the information cannot be verified.
The Ukrainian armed forces continue to pull together to defend the capital, Kiev. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar wrote on Facebook that it was primarily about defending against the Russian attack in the north and north-west of the capital. Mobilization is ongoing across the country. The air force had intercepted Russian fighter jets and transport aircraft over Kiev, and the navy had sworn in for a Russian landing in the south.
According to the Ukrainian general staff, the Russian attack is continuing, but the pace has been slowed down significantly. The enemy has problems with fuel and ammunition supplies, the army leadership said on Facebook. The Russian soldiers, who are mainly young recruits, are exhausted because of the previous maneuvers. Morale and psychological condition are bad. There are first reports of desertion by soldiers who refused to fight against Ukraine. Some prisoners said they were assigned to a maneuver and then found themselves in a war, according to Ukrainian media. That was not verifiable.
The Russian troops had suffered heavy losses, the General Staff said. So far, more than 3,000 soldiers have been killed and more than 200 captured. 16 planes and 18 helicopters were destroyed, as well as more than 100 tanks and hundreds of other military vehicles.
Success stories are also coming from Moscow
At the same time, Moscow is also reporting successes: Russian troops captured 471 Ukrainian soldiers, said a spokesman for the Defense Ministry. An entire regiment surrendered near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. In addition, 975 military objects were destroyed and 8 combat aircraft and 7 helicopters as well as 11 combat drones were shot down, according to the Kremlin spokesman. Another 28 aircraft were destroyed on the ground, as were 223 tanks and other combat vehicles. Again, this information cannot be independently verified.
The Ukrainian leadership accused Russia of war crimes. Civilian infrastructure in big cities is being intentionally destroyed, civilians are being killed. Russia firmly rejects this. Russian troops have destroyed an oil depot near Kiev and a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, “in violation of the norms of international humanitarian law,” according to Ukrainian sources. None of the information has been independently verified.