“Incredible resilience of Ukrainians” seen in battling the Russians, notes a top U.S. State Department official.
VIDEO: Ukrainian Missile Pinpoints Camouflaged Russian Tank
Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to destroy the equipment of the Russian troops as seen in this screenshot from a video supplied by the Ukrainian military. (General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Zenger).
A camouflaged Russian tank was not able to escape detection by Ukrainian forces as evidenced by footage showing it hit by a missile and exploding.
“Ukrainian soldiers continue to accurately and economically destroy the Russian occupiers. Economically not because there is not enough ammunition; Ukrainians are simply masters,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on March 22 in a statement accompanying the release of the video.
“Russians, if you want to live, leave! Well, or capture is also an option,” that statement goes on to say, adding “P.S. Or it will be like in the video.”
According to Ukrinform, which bills itself as only national news agency of Ukraine, with roots dating to 1918: “From February 24 to March 22, the Russian invaders lost about 15,300 personnel, 509 tanks, 1,556 armored combat vehicles, 252 artillery systems, 80 MLRS, 45 air defense units, 99 aircraft, 123 helicopters, 1,000 vehicles, 3 ships/boats, 70 fuel tanks, 35 UAVs of operational and tactical level, 15 special equipment units.”
However, these figures have not been independently verified, and U.S. intelligence officials gave a “conservative” estimate of more than 7,000 Russian deaths last week.
Despite sluggish progress, the Russian Armed Forces have managed to occupy swathes of territory in northern, eastern and southern Ukraine. But the Kremlin is believed to have underestimated the resolve and determination of the Ukrainian resistance, and, as such, Russian forces have failed to take the major cities, such as Kyiv or Kharkiv.
Western officials have said that Russian forces are facing shortages of food and fuel and that a number of soldiers have frostbite. They have also often reiterated their desire for the war not to spread to other parts of Europe.
“Ukraine itself decides on what terms to agree to end the war with Russia. We consistently stand for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the principle that each country has the right to choose its own security,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said in an interview, of which a partial transcript was posted online on March 23, with Ukraine’s Channel 24 medial outlet.
“We are deeply committed to helping Ukraine defend itself. That is why we are very active in supplying Ukraine with weapons that will shoot down Russian planes: anti-aircraft missile systems, air defense systems, and so on. And I will tell you, Ukrainian forces are very active in using these systems in the war with Russia,” she said.
Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler
