Russia’s tank troops are said to have suffered severe casualties after a precision blitz by Ukrainian artillery.
Footage of the aftermath shows a group of Russian tanks on fire and several that have had their turrets blown right off.
The artillery strike took place near the city of Zaporizhzhia in the south-eastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on 27th April: “Good morning from Ukraine. The Territorial Defence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted losses on the Russian occupiers in the area of Zaporizhzhia.
“The result of Ukrainian artillery. Let’s win together!”
The footage shows smoke billowing from several armored vehicles after apparently being struck by Ukrainian missiles.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin called a “special military operation”. Today marks the 63rd day of the invasion.
From 24th February to 27th April, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at 22,400 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 939 battle tanks, 2,342 combat armored vehicles, 421 artillery systems, 149 MLR systems, 71 anti-aircraft systems, 185 warplanes, 155 helicopters, 1,666 vehicles, 8 vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 207 operational-tactical level UAVs, 31 units of special equipment, and four mobile SRBM systems.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia is failing in all of its war aims in Ukraine following his short visit to the besieged country.
The talks involving Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv on Sunday mark the highest-level visit by US officials since the Russian invasion began.
Officials say Washington has pledged over USD 700 million (GBP 549 million) in additional military aid to Kyiv.
Yesterday, one of the last remaining Ukrainian commanders holed up in the Mariupol siege told of the nightly gauntlet of air raids and artillery.
And he bitterly blamed Russia for the waste of the billion USD it had poured into the siege, which could have been used to build “schools, hospitals, universities”.
In an accompanying statement, the Azov Regiment – a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine based in devastated Mariupol, in south-eastern Ukraine said (in Ukrainian): “Address from the Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment, Captain Svyatoslav Palamar, Kalina, regarding the situation in Mariupol today.
“This night is just a colossal number of air strikes, phosphorous bombs, missiles, artillery and everything that a barbarian can use against humanity.
“For all military words and actions are one and the same. Therefore, it is difficult for us to understand why we are promised and not acted upon.
“In total it is 1,111,200,180 dollars without expenses for fuel, equipment, medical evacuation, food and other things.
“Think that this money is equal to the opportunity to build 163 schools, or 273 kindergartens, or 12 modern hospitals, 32 maternity hospitals or 82 pharmacies. This is only Mariupol. I’m not talking about Ukraine as a whole.
“Do not believe in our statistics – ask the official authorities in Russia how many died on the cruiser Moskva?
“I call on the military-political leadership to take decisive action to release or evacuate all those who hope and believe in the Homeland.
“Today I will say that Mariupol is not Ukraine, but Ukraine is Mariupol.”
In Captain Palamar’s address, he says (in Ukrainian but with subtitles in English): “We calculated approximate cost that Russians wasted on war in Mariupol instead of building schools, hospitals, universities or at least provided a decent aging for the pensioners.
“These numbers are colossal.
“It is unimaginable for a normal person to understand the logic of this war in Ukraine.
“As for now, the weapons, vehicles lost by the enemy, values at least 162 000 000 USD.
“Jet fuel, ammunition – 288 000 000 USD.
“The compensation for wounded and killed soldiers in Mariupol will cost Russian government 661 000 000 USD.
“In summary it is 1 111 200 180 USD.”
