Why is Kiev's data 10 times smaller and what is the composition of the Ukrainian Mariupol garrison
The Russian armed forces hit the production buildings of the armored plant in Kiev, as well as the repair shops of military equipment in Nikolaev with air-launched cruise missiles. In addition, on April 16, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the complete cleansing of the city territory of Mariupol from Ukrainian forces and commented on the data on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, given earlier by Vladimir Zelensky. The representative of the department said that they are almost an order of magnitude more than they say in Kiev. Meanwhile, the National Defense Management Center appealed to the World Health Organization with a request to assess the facts of the use of medical facilities by militants — firing positions are being equipped in these buildings.
10 times
The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday categorically disagreed with the data provided by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on the losses of the Armed Forces since the beginning of the conflict. The day before, in an interview with the American channel CNN, he estimated them at 2.5–3 thousand people.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, for the entire time of the special operation, the total losses of Ukrainian forces by April 16 amounted to 23,367 people. The agency promised to start publishing separate data from Ukrainian documents on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, revealing the places of death and burial.
The Russian military department also revealed the composition of the group of Ukrainian troops defending Mariupol. By the time of the encirclement there were the 36th separate Marine Brigade, the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade, the 503rd separate Marine battalion, a company of the 53rd separate mechanized brigade, units of the 17th anti-tank Brigade, Nazi formations "Azov", "Aidar", "Right Sector" (banned in Russian Federation), police and state border service units, as well as foreign mercenaries — a total of about 8.1 thousand people.
A damaged tank of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
On April 16, the entire city territory of Mariupol was completely cleared of Ukrainian forces. Resistance is continued only by a group of no more than 2.5 thousand soldiers who have taken refuge on Azovstal. Another 1,464 soldiers surrendered. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in this city alone, the losses of Ukrainian forces amounted to about 4 thousand people.
— The estimates of the Russian Defense Ministry are minimal, — military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia. — It is enough just to analyze the composition of the troops. The number of the brigade for full deployment was at least 3 thousand people, only two brigades would have been 6 thousand, not counting everything else. According to estimates that I heard from the military in Mariupol, there were from 10 to 15 thousand people there. Of course, the losses of 4 thousand only in Mariupol are absolutely objective. If we take into account the losses suffered in other places, it is obvious that Zelensky, as usual, is lying. It must be understood that he lives only by propaganda. Accordingly, the Ukrainian citizen will be told this figure, and he will believe it. The truth will be revealed later, when the soldiers begin to return home.
On deliveries
The Russian Armed Forces continue to strike at the objects of the defense infrastructure of Ukraine. On Saturday night, air-launched cruise missiles hit the production buildings of an armored plant in Kiev and repair shops of military equipment in Nikolaev.
During the day, 31 more objects of Ukraine near the front line and in the rear were hit by high-precision air-based missiles. Tactical aviation destroyed more than 130 areas of concentration of personnel and Ukrainian military equipment.
On April 16, the military department also reported the destruction of an air transport carrying foreign military aid.
Buk-MZ anti-aircraft missile System (SAM) of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
— In the area of Odessa, a Ukrainian military transport plane was shot down in the air, delivering a large batch of weapons supplied to Ukraine by Western countries, - said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
In addition, a Ukrainian Su-25 plane was shot down in the air 15 km south of the city of Izyum. The ministry also reported the destruction of two APU drones by air defense means.
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—Since the beginning of the special military operation, 134 aircraft, 460 unmanned aerial vehicles, 246 anti—aircraft missile systems, 2,269 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 252 multiple rocket launchers, 987 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,158 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed," Igor Konashenkov said.
Will continue service
On Saturday, the Commander-in-chief of the Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov and the command of the Black Sea Fleet met in Sevastopol with the crew of the missile cruiser "Moscow". The ship sank after a fire and an explosion of ammunition on April 14.
At the meeting, the commander-in-chief of the Navy told the personnel of the cruiser's crew that officers, midshipmen and sailors would continue to serve in the Navy.
— The traditions of the Guards missile cruiser "Moscow" will be carefully preserved and continued, as it has always been customary in the Navy, - said Nikolai Evmenov.
Missile cruiser "Moscow"
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Kristina Kormilitsyna
Meanwhile, the head of the National Defense Control Center (NCSO), Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, said that 15,837 people, including 2,659 children, had been evacuated to Russia from dangerous areas of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics over the past day. A total of 837,157 people have been evacuated since the start of the military operation, 154,396 of whom are children.
The General noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) I still have not given a proper assessment of the facts of the use of medical institutions by neo—Nazis not for their intended purpose - providing medical care, but as strong points and firing points for conducting military operations.
"Once again we call on all international organizations, and first of all the World Health Organization, to influence official Kiev and take effective measures aimed at preventing the use of medical infrastructure facilities for military purposes," Mikhail Mizintsev said.
He covered the wounded soldiers
On April 16, the Russian Defense Ministry also told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation. During the attack on the command post of the artillery brigade, communication lines and equipment were damaged. Realizing that this threatens the loss of centralized command, the brigade's communications chief, Major Pyotr Tochilkin, began to restore it under heavy artillery and mortar fire.
"Thanks to the courage, bravery and professionalism of Pyotr Tochilkin, the broken communication lines and damaged equipment were promptly restored, which made it possible to control the brigade in battle and repel the attack of the nationalists," the Russian military department said.
They also noted that Major Pyotr Tochilkin, on his own initiative, provided the brigade's subscribers with satellite communication terminals, which made it possible to reduce the effect of interference from Ukrainian formations.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
The battalion-tactical group (BTG) of the tank regiment, which included a platoon of Lieutenant Alexander Bialik, attacked Ukrainian formations from the march. The lieutenant's tank managed to break deep into the defense, but was blown up by a mine, lost its course and caught fire. Alexander continued to fire at the enemy until he had used up all his ammunition. Then he evacuated the wounded driver and, together with his crew, made his way to the main forces, destroying three militant positions on the way.
Having delivered the wounded driver to a safe place, the crew of Alexander Bialik returned to the battlefield, the Defense Ministry noted.
The crew of Sergeant Oleg Borisov destroyed three enemy infantry fighting vehicles and more than 20 militants, including foreign mercenaries, with accurate fire. The tankers also rescued three wounded infantrymen who could not get out of the fire on their own. Having covered the wounded soldiers with a tank, Sergeant Borisov personally transferred the victims to the armor and evacuated them to a shelter, where they were promptly provided with medical assistance.
Anton Lavrov
Roman Kretsul
Bogdan Stepovoy
