Russia admits to loss of more than 1,300 troops in the month long war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists on calling the conflict in Ukraine as a “special military operation.” It began on Feb. 24 and Russia has finally admitted to loos of its forces. U S News says more than 1,300 Russian troops have been killed. However, the figures are much less than the assessment of Western powers and Kyiv. Incidentally, an official of the Russian Ministry of Defense indicated the state would take care of rehabilitation of the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the war. Casualties will be there during wars and the United States. had lost 7,000 troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. That was across two decades.

Russia conducted different methods to subdue Ukraine. However, it seems various issues have bogged down the plans. Some of these are a depletion of Russian armaments coupled with effective defenses of Ukraine. Putin took a decision to use more indiscriminate weaponry and siege tactics against dense civilian centers like Mariupol and the capital Kyiv. These have led to increased civilian casualties. There are concerns in some quarters about Russia going in for chemical weapons or biological warfare. It seems Putin could induct foreign fighters to carry out such attacks.


Source - U S News 25 March 2022.

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Advantage Ukraine as Russia unable to build on the initial advances

It is the 27th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The resistance offered by Ukrainian troops have forced the invaders to rethink their strategies. Russia continues to bombard cities in Ukraine destroying buildings, infrastructures and loss of lives. Its forces continue to lay siege to the city of Mariupol while their troops and artillery are on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv. However, Ukraine remains in control of Kharkiv even as the Russians are in Odessa. These details are provided by The BBC

The war between Ukraine and Russia has been going on for more than three weeks. That must be a worry for Russia. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) feels the failure to capture major cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa could lengthen the war. In fact, it could go on for many more days and have serious repercussions. The BBC says the resistance of Ukraine has compelled the Russians to modify their approach. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirms this. They would now become more aggressive and try to destroy the cities with corresponding increase in civilian casualties.


Incidentally, those who have drawn up the plan to take over Kyiv probably did not bother to get the lowdown on the local topography. In order to take over the capital the Russians have to cross the Irpin River. The terrain is of marshlands and bogs and those have thwarted the advances of the Russians. Many of their vehicles have run out of fuel.



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At least 50 sleeping soldiers killed in Mykolaiv due to Russian missile attack, toll could increase

This time the Russians targeted a military base in Mykolaiv. It was another missile attack and a part of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The calculations of Russian President Vladimir Putin appear to be off course. This is because of the defiance of the Ukrainians. There were 200 troops inside the barracks and the attack took place as they slept. The exact number of casualties yet to be ascertained but the authorities have recovered at least 50 bodies. A serviceman of Ukraine has indicated this to a media agency. Details are provided by Sky News.

It will take time to assess the full extent of losses. This is because the site was under the control of the military. Many more bodies could still be in the rubble. A media outlet from Belgium visited the scene of the missile attack. They tried to record the scenes of destruction. According to the media outlet, the Russians had launched at least two missiles. In the words of a soldier, probably someone wants to test his weapons. A war does provide opportunities to test out new weapons.


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Global crisis on food looms large after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks back and the cost of major agricultural products are going beyond the reach of people. Wheat is an all-important item in the kitchen. The combined supplies from Russia and Ukraine make up nearly 30 percent of global wheat trade. This is now at risk. These two countries are the breadbasket for many countries. These are in the Middle East, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Many of them would feel the after effects of ongoing war. Another major problem is availability of fertilizer. This is essential for farmers but it is becoming more expensive. Russia is not exporting it and output in Europe has reduced. This is because of surging price of natural gas, which is a major ingredient in nitrogen-based fertilizers like urea. Global health experts are worried.

Agriculture ministers from the G7 countries would draw up strategies to prevent any food crisis. Egypt imposed ban on the export of wheat, flour, lentils and beans. Indonesia, the world's top producer of palm oil, has implemented export restrictions on it. This item is required for preparing cooking oil, cosmetics and chocolate. The UN's World Food Program revealed that the number of people on the edge of famine has jumped to 44 million from 27 million in 2019. This is a matter of concern. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine would worsen the situation.


Source –

edition.cnn.com dated 12 March 2022

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Claims and counter claims on chemical weapons in the Ukraine-Russia conflict

Ukraine claim its forces have seized items related to chemical warfare from Russian troops. The items are gas masks. The seizure is after the West warned about possibility of use of chemical weapons by Russia in its barbaric invasion. The Ministry of Defense brought forward images of the captured equipment. These included World War II era helmets and other items of the military. On the other hand, a spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that Ukraine was running biological weapons labs with support from the United States. The West has dismissed these allegations.

The invasion is into its third week and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the threat of Russian forces deploying chemical weapons is “very real.” There are fears of Russia using chemical weapons. This is borne out by the masks that Russia has issued to its troops. Prime Minister of Britain Boris Johnson echoed the concerns of Zelensky. The Prime Minister said Russia is preparing a “fake story.” it wants to deny using such weapons and blame the West. Russia has already accused Ukraine of a chemical weapons strike without providing any evidence. Officials believe the accusation could be an excuse for launching their own attack. Russia has a stockpile of chemical weapons but these have not been in combat for decades.

Source -

dailymail.co.uk dated 11/3/2022

Russia destroys the only Antonov AN-225, world's largest plane, during its invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine named the Antonov AN-225 aircraft as “Mriya” or “Dream.” An enormous aircraft, it was powered by six engines and had attained a cult status. It was undergoing repairs at an airfield near Kyiv when the "Russian occupants" attacked and damaged it. The authorities in Ukraine want to rebuild it and says Russia would have to foot the bill of around $3 billion USD. The restoration would require over five years. Ukrainian state defense company Ukroboronprom, manages the Antonov AN-225 and it has been in service for more than three decades ever since the days of the Soviet Union. The incident has affected Ukraine's aviation and air cargo sectors.


The AN-225 has played important roles to help airlift aid during crises in other countries. After the Haiti earthquake of 2010, it delivered relief supplies to the neighboring Dominican Republic. In the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aircraft ferried medical supplies to affected areas. Until now, the Kiev-based Antonov Company built only one AN-225. Its first flight was in 1988 and has been in service ever since. The story of this marvelous aircraft began in the 1960 and '70s. It stemmed from a need to transport large and heavy loads from their places of assembly to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This was the sprawling spaceport in the deserts of Kazakhstan. It was from here that Yuri Gagarin was launched into space in 1961.
Source -

edition.cnn.com dated 28/2/2022

Russian losses keep mounting, it is unable to control any major city in Ukraine

The war between Russia and Ukraine is into its second week. Kremlin describes it not as a war but a “special military operation.” That is how President Vladimir V. Putin looks at it. He believes that everything is going according to plan. However, the ground realities tend to paint a different picture. Russia has not been able to seize and control any of the major cities or population centers. These include Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa. In the process, Russia has lost many of its weapons and soldiers. The government of Ukraine has indicated the Russian losses as staggering.

NYTimes dated 8 March 2022 says loss of Russian soldiers is in excess of 12000. The Ukraine military has shot down or destroyed 48 of their airplanes and 80 helicopters. It has also captured or destroyed 303 tanks and innumerable mechanized vehicles and cars. Moreover, they have even taken out two Russian naval vessels, including a warship and blown up dozens of fuel tanker and mobile missile launching systems. These figures are difficult to verify but President Volodymyr Zelensky said - “Russia has not lost as much aircraft in the past 30 years as in 13 days in Ukraine.” Incidentally, satellite imagery tends to suggest loss of roughly 950 Russian vehicles. These include 140 tanks that have either been destroyed or damaged.

More than 11,000 Russian soldiers killed in the war with Ukraine

A war is on between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have suffered losses and it is too early to assess the casualties. The estimates of the United Nations mentions more than 1,000 civilian casualties against 11,000 from the Russian military side. This is since the invasion began. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR, there have been 1,058 civilian casualties so far in Ukraine. The breakup is 351 killed and 10 of them are children. This covers the period of 4am on 24 February to midnight on 4 March. The figures could be considerably more. Another source is the Ukrainian Parliament's Telegram channel. It says in the Donetsk region, 52 civilians died in Russian attacks and 267 suffered injuries. These figures do not take into account the dead or the injured in the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. A media outlet says the death toll is higher on the Russian side. It is around 11,000 since the invasion began on 24 February.

The UK's Ministry of Defense indicated that the Russian defense ministry admitted to the death of 498 Russian soldiers with another 1,597 wounded. Of course, the actual figures would be considerably higher and it would show an upward trend. There was a second evacuation attempt in Mariupol but it did not succeed. The UN mentions about more than 1.5 million refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. In the opinion of the UN, this figure could go up to 4 million by July. The Interior Ministry of Poland said it has received more than 650,000 refugees from Ukraine and has opened eight reception centers at the border to accommodate them.

Source -

news.sky.com dated 7 March 2022

Ukraine plans missile tests, Russia responds by sending warships to the Black Sea

Ukraine has begun two days of missile tests near Crimea and it has angered Russia in a fresh escalation of tensions between the two countries. Russia has retaliated by putting its air defence forces on high alert and deploying warships in the Black Sea.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 Dcember 2016.

It may be recalled that relations between the one-time allies had collapsed in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea and backed pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Regarding the present escalation of tension is attributed to Ukraine trying to bolster its defence capabilities and testing S-300 medium-range surface-to-air missiles. As the head of the Ukrainian military's southern branch press-service has explained - the exercise is to gain experience in using these anti-aircraft missile systems and to check the quality of the rockets. These rockets had been repaired. Another reason is to improve the skills of the anti-aircraft missile troop units. He has added that the tests are being carried out in accordance with international law.
It seems Russian President Vladimir Putin has deployed 55,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in Russia's latest muscle-flexing exercise. This sudden influx of feet on the ground adds to up to 7,500 Russian soldiers already stationed in Ukraine. This has prompted fears of an invasion.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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MH17 flight shot down by rocket over Ukraine in 2014 was work of pro-Moscow rebels

Based on fresh evidence that has emerged, it is believed that the rocket that brought down MH17 over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014 was fired from territory held by pro-Moscow rebels. A surface-to-air missile had hit the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Most of the 298 people on board were Dutch citizens.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 28 September 2016.

International prosecutors have indicated that one rocket from the BUK system was fired from the rebel-held village of Pervomaysk, in eastern Ukraine, before being moved back to Russia. Ukraine has said that the findings prove Russia's 'direct involvement'. However, Russia's foreign minister has termed the investigation 'biased and politically motivated'.
Based on various evidence collected by the Joint Investigation Team, it may be concluded that MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched by a Buk which had been brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation. After the launch it was returned to the Russian Federation.


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This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 7 June 2016.

It seems he was plotting 15 attacks in France targeting Muslim and Jewish houses of worship, bridges, highways, a tax collecting office and buildings of public institutions involved in the organization of Euro 2016. Police detained him when he was attempting to cross the Ukrainian-Polish border.
Details of the suspect have not been disclosed but, he had traveled to Ukraine intending to buy weapons from the armed groups, which are involved in the confrontation in eastern regions. Preliminary investigations indicate that he had acquired 125 kg of explosives, 5 Kalashnikov assault rifles, more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition and other weapons as a part of his arsenal.


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The animals are to be delivered before August to the military in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. This location has been a training center for the animals since 1965. The center was badly dilapidated following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dolphins were reportedly sold to Iran.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 9 March 2016.

Ukraine's navy had revived the center in 2012 but, once the Russians annexed Ukraine two years later, the center has gone back under Russia's control. Therefore, Russia is working out new programs to train the dolphins to serve the Russian military.
During the Cold War, dolphins were used to locate submarines, underwater mines and suspicious objects near harbors and ships. The dolphins were an integral part of the arms race between the USSR and the US. The dolphins were trained to not only plant explosives on enemy ships but could also locate abandoned torpedoes in the Black Sea.
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Ukraine has indicated that with effect from 25 October it will ban Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero from flying into the country – it would be a part of sanctions over Moscow's support for rebels in the east. The announcement was made by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk.
This has been reported in bbc.com dated 25 September 2015.
Moreover, Russian transit flights carrying military personnel or dual-use goods would also be banned. Moscow has termed the move as "an act of madness" and has promised a firm response.

Ukraine has already imposed sanctions against 400 people and 90 legal entities - most of them from Russia – who were held responsible for Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Of course, in a separate development, Ukraine and Russia have reached an agreement on supplies of natural gas to Kiev for the coming winter, ending months of tough negotiations. The deal was brokered by the European Union and was initialed in Brussels.
It requires more refinement before it can be signed.
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Gas blast in Zasyadko coal mine in Ukraine kills 33

#Ukraine #Zasyadko #Donetsk A suspected gas blast at the Zasyadko mine in a rebel-held region of eastern Ukraine has led to the death of 33 people with another 30 trapped in the mine as revealed by an official of the eels and reported in bbc.com dated 4 March 2015.
There were 230 people in the shaft when the accident happened and 157 of them had been brought out leaving 73 unaccounted for before reports of the deaths came out.
This mine is believed to be one of Ukraine's biggest coal producers.
At least 14 miners were also reported to have been injured in the worst mine disaster of Ukraine in nearly eight years ago when 101 were killed.
There are apprehensions that the rebels may not have the resources necessary to deal with disasters of this nature.
Donetsk had witnessed heavy fighting between the pro-Russian separatist rebels and government troops during the winter but as indicated by an official of the mine union to a Ukrainian TV channel, there had been no fighting in the area in recent days.
It may be noted that even while Ukraine's economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many of the coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone. Before the conflict began, accidents were common in the mines. Safety standards in the mines are poor.
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Boris Nemstov, a fierce critic of President Putin, shot dead in Moscow

#BorisNemstov #VladimirPutin #Ukraine #DavidCameron #WhiteHouse Russia's former deputy Prime Minister 55-year-old Boris Nemstov who was a strong critic of President Vladimir Putin has been shot dead by unidentified assailants in Moscow as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 28 February 2015. The assailants shot him four times from a passing car.
It seems he was working on a sensitive report regarding concrete evidence about the direct involvement of Russia in the separatist movement in Ukraine that had erupted last year.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned the killing and has termed it as despicable and callous. He has also added that the people of Russian had been deprived of a champion of their rights and that Boris Nemtsov was greatly admired in Britain.
It seems the incident occurred as Mr Nemtsov was walking along the Bolshoy Kammeny Bridge towards Bolotnaya Square. Along with him was a female acquaintance who had come from Ukraine.
The White House wants that the investigation is "prompt, impartial and transparent".
President Putin has condemned the death and has indicated that, to him, it appeared to be a “contract killing" – he has also said that he will personally oversee the investigation into the shooting.
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Russian company offers guided tank-tours to war ravaged Donetsk and Luhansk

#russianholiday #tanktour #donetsk #luhansk #ukraine In a major shift in policy, a Russian holiday company is offering guided tours to Donetsk and Luhansk to see the war ravaged countryside with its damaged battle tanks as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 14 February 2015.
The tours include tank-transport and personal bodyguards and the holiday company appears to be testing the boundaries of tolerance quite literally with such guided tours of war-torn eastern Ukraine.
The four-day tour would come to about £1,300 to £2,000 per person and the company would make available bodyguards from a security firm – each of the tanks will hold between five and seven people.
Apparently, even as a fierce and bloody battle continues between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces, the holiday company based in Moscow and known as Megapolis Kurort feels that the scenario has tremendous potentials and want to exploit it.
Incidentally, the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk are on the itinerary of the company and both are strongholds of the pro-Russian rebels and had witnessed large scale violence.

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Ukraine peace deal in jeopardy again with fresh bombings and 11 dead

#artemivsk #kramatorsk #ukraine #smerch #minsk Consequent to fresh bombings, Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine has warned that such bombings in the east of the country is likely to put the impending ceasefire in danger as reported in news.sky.com dated 14 February 2015.
As per reports, at least 11 people have been killed and dozens wounded in the last 24 hours and the ceasefire agreed upon in Minsk on Thursday would take effect at 10pm UK time.
It seems a shell landed in a school yard in the eastern Ukrainian town of Artemivsk which is under control of the government forces on Friday – it resulted in the death of one child and two adults. In Kramatorsk, the Russian multiple rocket launch system Grad, or Smerch, has killed three civilians.
Moreover, Ukraine and Russian-backed rebels continued to fight across the eastern part of the country in spite of the new peace deal that was brokered by Germany and France in Minsk.
Information released by a Ukrainian military spokesman is that 11 soldiers had been killed and 40 wounded in the past 24 hours.

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