Kyiv says around 10,000 Russians casualties in Ukraine since invasion started
Ukraine has said that the number of Russian troops killed is far higher than Moscow had previously admitted to losses.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said that more than 2,000 civilians have died, though it was impossible to verify that claim. The United Nations’ human rights office said on Thursday it had recorded the deaths of 136 civilians, including 13 children, in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion.
A top Russian general has been killed amid bitter fighting in Ukraine in what represents a major blow to the Russian invasion.
Major General Andrey Sukhovetsky, who was the deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of Russia's Central Military District, died yesterday as Ukrainian defence forces repelled the Russian offensive.
His death has not yet been officially confirmed by Russia's Ministry of Defence, but was announced on social media by his colleague Sergey Chipilyov and was widely reported by several Russian and Ukrainian news outlets.
A military source confirmed that he was killed 'by a sniper', and suggested a funeral for the Major General - by far the most senior Russian figure to have died in the conflict thus far - will be held in Russia on Saturday.
After days of denial, the Kremlin yesterday admitted that ONLY 498 of its troops have been killed and 1,600 injured in the 'special military operation' in Ukraine, but the true figure is almost certainly higher.
Ukraine's armed forces meanwhile claimed today that Russia's army had suffered over 10,000 casualties - though the statement recognised that the calculation of the death toll 'is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to organize humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians in the second round of talks in Belarus on Thursday, adviser to the Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak confirmed on Twitter.
"There is a solution only for the organization of humanitarian corridors," Podoliak tweeted.
During the talks on Thursday, the two sides discussed military issues, humanitarian issues, and a future political settlement of the conflict, said Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also the head of the Russian delegation.
"The positions were made absolutely clear ... On some of them, we managed to reach an understanding," he said, noting that creating humanitarian corridors is "substantial progress."
Russia's TASS news agency reported earlier Thursday that the second round of talks has ended.
Podoliak told a media briefing that the third round of peace negotiations may take place soon, according to Ukrainian media.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when commenting on the peace negotiations, said that "any talks" make sense.
