EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ukraine’s Armed Forces have released their morning briefing where they say they “managed to inflict devastating blows on groups of occupying troops.”
They say their airforce destroyed three Russian war planes, one helicopter, three unmanned aerial vehicles and shot down two missiles, claims yet to be verified.
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Ukraine’s army also said that while Russia continued to bomb “densely populated areas of Ukrainian cities” this week, its troops have failed to advance on several fronts, including Donestk, Luhansk and Mykolaiv.
“The enemy continues to bear losses on retreats in certain areas,” the statement says.
In an earlier post from last night, Ukraine’s army asserted that Russia was struggling to even consolidate the ground it had gained, and was also being forced to call up military cadets to the frontline.
Russia is also seeking foreign fighters to make up for troop losses.
The UK’s Defence Ministry in its latest intel brief wrote: “As a a result of these losses, it is likely Russia is struggling to conduct offensive operations in the face of sustained Ukraine resistance.”
Meanwhile, blasts were heard in the capital Kyiv earlier this morning, according to social media reports.
The city’s emergency services now say that a 12-storey residential building in the Shevchenko district was hit by Russian shelling at around 6am. A neighbouring nine-storey building was also damaged, authorities say.
They’ve added that two people were injured and 35 were evacuated from the building. The fire was put out at 7.45am and rescuers are now searching for survivors
Videos circulated earlier on social media showed large plumes of smoke wafting into the air from buildings.
Residents across the city remain hunkered down in bunkers, underground shelters and their homes amid a two-day curfew.
Officials have warned that it is a “difficult and dangerous” moment for th e capital.
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