Round 1,300 Ukrainian troopers have been killed defending their nation for the reason that Russian invasion 16 days in the past, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated.
The information comes as Russian forces shelled a mosque in Mariupol, the place greater than 80 adults and youngsters, together with Turkish residents, have taken refuge - it isn't identified if there have been any deaths or accidents.
President Zelenskiy spoke in a information briefing on Saturday and stated Ukrainian and Russian negotiating groups had began discussing concrete matters relatively than exchanging "ultimatums".
Whereas the president additionally shared the devastating financial value of the battle saying most companies in Ukraine have stopped working.
It is estimated round 10,000 Russian troops have misplaced their lives.
An financial adviser for Ukraine beforehand estimated that the Russian invasion had already induced greater than $100 billion of
injury.
Zelenskiy has urged the West must be extra concerned in negotiations to finish the battle however welcomed efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, and stated he had recommended to Bennett holding talks in Jerusalem.
The governors of two Ukrainian areas, Kyiv and Donetsk, stated Russian assaults have been persevering with in areas the place Ukraine was
making an attempt to evacuate folks and convey help by means of humanitarian corridors.
Governor Pavlo Oleksandrovych Kyrylenk of Donetsk described the city of Volnovakha has being fully destroyed, however was preventing for it is ongoing territory.
Whereas is has been reported that Russian occupying forces are planning to stage a "pseudo" referendum within the southern
Ukrainian port metropolis of Kherson to create a breakaway area.
Sergey Khlan, deputy head of the native council stated: "The creation of the (republic) will flip our area right into a hopeless gap with out life or a future," he stated in a put up on social media.
Russian forces captured Kherson following the beginning of an invasion on February 24, however pro-Ukraine protesters have taken
to the streets within the metropolis to protest the invasion pressure.
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