Ukraine says Russia has lost nearly 5,300 military personnel
Deputy defense minister claims Ukrainian army has so far destroyed 29 Russian warplanes, 29 helicopters, 191 tanks, 816 armored combat vehicles
ISTANBUL
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed on Monday that nearly 5,300 Russian troops have been killed since the start of Russia's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth day.
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar shared information about the estimated losses of the Russian army from Feb. 24 to Feb. 28.
Maliar claimed that the Ukrainian army killed around 5,300 Russian troops, destroyed 29 warplanes, 29 helicopters, 191 tanks, 816 armored combat vehicles, 74 guns, and two ships/motorboats.
She added that Russian forces also lost a Buk anti-aircraft missile system, 21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 291 vehicles, 60 cisterns, 5 AAD assets, and three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the country's Defense Ministry to place deterrent forces on high alert.
Putin ordered the military intervention on Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.
At least 368,000 Ukrainians have fled to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries since then, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Western powers have imposed harsh financial sanctions on Moscow and decided to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.
