Russia advances while Ukraine unwilling to influence nationalists
Russia is advancing in Ukraine amid Ukrainian unwillingness to influence nationalists and extend the ceasefire, and Moscow unveils Kiev's losses.
The Russian armed forces resumed their advance in Ukraine at 3 pm GMT due to Kiev not wanting to influence nationalists or extend the ceasefire between the two parties, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said Saturday.
"Nationalist battalions have used the ceasefire to regroup and strengthen the positions held," Konashenkov told reporters, revealing that the advance resumed "in light of the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the ceasefire."
Russian forces take over Ukrainian military base near Kherson
The Russian army took control of a Ukrainian military base near Kherson, Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry revealed Saturday.
The armed forces took control of a Ukrainian military base near Radensk, Kherson, the ministry announced, adding that the Ukrainian forces were "leaving positions in a hurry, leaving behind the base with equipment, weapons, and ammunition."
The Ukrainian armed forces left behind munition, mines, anti-tank guided munition, artillery shells, and tank ammunition. In total, Kiev's forces left behind more than 4,500 tons of munition.
1/2 The details of the capture of the military base of the Ukrainian army near Kherson by the forces of the RF Armed Forces became known
— Victor 🇷🇺 Z (@vicktop55) March 5, 2022
The armed forces of Ukraine abandoned the military base and fled in full force, leaving behind equipment, weapons and more than 4.5 thousand pic.twitter.com/rbfqKHDHMc
The Russian defense ministry said the base could have been used to train various units, such as marines, explosive experts, signal detachments, and tank and artillery crews, with a capacity of over 4,000 people.
Among the vehicles left behind by Kiev's forces were T-64 and T-80 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and Ural trucks.
The losses of the Ukrainian army
The Russian defense ministry made a tally of all Ukrainian losses, which reflect the damage inflicted on Kiev, as the Russian army demolished over 2,100 military facilities, as per ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov.
The Russian air force also destroyed Saturday several air defense systems as Moscow focused on inflicting damage on the Ukrainian military infrastructure, destroying five radar stations and two Buk-M1 defense systems.
Konashenkov also revealed that the Russian armed forces downed four Su-27s Zhitomir during aerial engagements, in addition to a Su-25. The Air Defense Forces also downed a Ukrainian Mil Mi-8 and a Bayraktar TB-2.
Since the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov said, Moscow destroyed 2119 military facilities, including 74 command and communication centers, 108 S-300, Buk M-1, and Osa air defense systems, 68 radar stations, 69 grounded aircraft, 21 aircraft in the air, 748 tanks and armored vehicles, 76 multiple rocket launchers, 274 Howitzers and mortars, 532 vehicles, and 59 UAVs.