Columns of Russian armored vehicles slowed down the pace of advanced into the territory of Ukraine. Enemy troops, deprived of timely replenishment of fuel and ammunition, are stopping. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through a post on Facebook.
"The personnel of the Agressor, the vast majority of whom are young people, are exhausted from previous military exercises and have a low moral as well as deteriorating psychological condition. According to the available information, there are facts of desertion, refusal to serve the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and to take part in hostilities against Ukraine and they willingly surrender”, - the message says.
The main tactics of the occupiers, as noted by the General Staff, remains the continiuos movement and capture of small towns, villages and highways.
"Due to the strong resistance of the civilian population, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the National Police, attempts to take control of large cities were unsuccessful," the General Staff said.
"Ignoring the norms of international humanitarian law, the Russian aggressor damaged the oil depot in Vasilkov and destroyed a gas pipeline in Kharkiv. The Agressor continues to insidiously damage high-story apartment buildings. To intimidate the local population, they use military units and subdivisions, staffed mainly by Caucasiansю Those troops have a poor command of Russian language”,- the General Staff said..
During the last 24 hours, the Russian occupiers fired at Kyiv and other cities with ballistic and cruise missiles and employed aviation forces that flew from the directions Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Republic of Belarus.
"In the Mozyr district of Belarus, the invaders formed a strike group compiled of Russian combat helicopters tasked to strike critical infrastructure and Ukrainian troops bases. The use of Ukrainian railway infrastructure is not currently an option since it was destroyed," the General Staff said.
“The combined Ukrainian forces are conducting a defensive operation, holding positions along the line of demarcation. The enemy reached no success in any direction. Enemy troops, deprived of timely replenishment of fuel and ammunition, are stopping”, - the General Staff said.
The losses of the Russian forces at the end of the third day of the war amounted to:
1. Personnel - more than 3000 people and more than 200 prisoners (information to be verified and clarified);
2. Aircrafts - 16 units;
3. Helicopters - 18 units;
4. Tanks - 102;
5. Armoured fighting vehicles (various types) - more than 540 units;
6. SAM BUK - 1;
7. Automotive equipment - more than 20 units.