Kiev lost 500+ troops in past 24 hours: Russian Defense Ministry
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The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that over 500 Ukrainian troops have been killed in combat with the Russian Armed Forces.
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In this photo distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, March 20, 2025, a Russian "Grad" self-propelled multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (AP)
Russia's Tsentr (Center) forces have reportedly eliminated over 500 Ukrainian military personnel in the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday.
The ministry's statement detailed that Ukrainian losses included more than 500 soldiers, six armored fighting vehicles, including a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 14 vehicles, and five field artillery guns.
Meanwhile, Russian MoD claimed that its Zapad (West) forces have eliminated over 220 Ukrainian troops, two armored fighting vehicles, and an ammunition depot. In combat with the Yug (South) group, Ukraine lost up to 315 soldiers, five armored vehicles, four artillery guns, and an ammunition depot.
Russia's Vostok (East) forces have reportedly taken out over 165 Ukrainian soldiers, a tank, and three ammunition depots during the same period.
The Sever (North) group defeated a Ukrainian mechanized brigade and a territorial defense brigade in the Belgorod direction, inflicting losses of up to 95 troops. Ukrainian forces in that area also lost a tank, two armored vehicles, 14 vehicles, and six artillery guns.
The Dnepr group of forces has reportedly neutralized up to 85 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed 12 vehicles, two field artillery guns, and an ammunition depot.
In addition, Russian air defense systems downed a MiG-29 aircraft from the Ukrainian air force, intercepted five JDAM guided aerial bombs, five HIMARS multiple launch rockets made in the US, and shot down 142 drones.
Ukraine: No land ceasefire
As talks of a potential ceasefire continue, it is worth noting that Ukraine previously rejected a land ceasefire, claiming it would allow Russian ground forces to "regroup and resume hostilities later", the advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office stated.
Serhiy Leshchenko said that Ukraine is not averse to a ceasefire, however, any potential agreement must not provide Russia with any advantage.
He also seemingly responded to US President Donald Trump's questions regarding Kiev's plan to end the conflict, saying Ukraine proposed several potential deals and initiatives that include ceasing air and sea operations, as well as attacks on energy facilities.
However, he stressed that Ukraine refuses a land ceasefire to prevent Russia's forces from regrouping and resuming their ground operations at a later date.
"You want a ceasefire—we are ready. But not on land, where Putin can take a few months to heal the wounded, recruit infantry from North Korea, and restart this war," he said.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the air and at sea, according to Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, which cited a source in Zelensky’s office on Wednesday.
The report stated that during a nearly hour-long phone call, the two leaders also discussed a broader ceasefire on the front lines and the release of prisoners. Zelensky reportedly briefed Trump on the current battlefield situation.
