150 Russian Soldiers Injured In Ukrainian Strike On Zaporizhzhia: In an update shared on Saturday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine revealed how 150 Russian soldiers were injured in a Ukrainian strike on a Russian base in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
In the update, Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russians shelled more than 15 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia direction over the last day.
“In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the enemy shelled more than 15 settlements. In particular, Zelene Pole and Vremivka in the Donetsk oblast and Hulyaipole, Dorozhnyanka, Zaliznychne and Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia,” the update reads.
The update then confirms how Russian occupiers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast were targeted by Ukrainian strikes, and that as many as 150 were injured as a result.
Around one-third of those injured were also reportedly taken to hospital, though no official confirmation of the number of soldiers killed has been confirmed.
“The defeat of the concentration area of the occupiers in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhia region has been confirmed. Thus, up to 150 invaders were injured, 50 of them were taken to the hospital in the city of Melitopol. Information about liquidated ones is being clarified.”
Ukraine Update: Russian Units Reportedly Withdrawing
Earlier this month, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military also suggested that Russian troops are withdrawing from positions throughout Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
An update described how Russian forces have already left the towns of Polohy, Inzhenerne, and Mykhailivka. All three towns are located to the south of Zaporizhzhia city.
Kyiv also suggested that the Kremlin was preparing to evacuate the “personnel of the occupation administrations” throughout the region over fears that they could become targets – or ultimately be taken prisoners – if Ukrainian forces continue to advance through previously occupied territories.
Russians Warned Not to Leave Combat
In the same weekend update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine described how Russian soldiers are being warned not to leave combat.
According to the post, Russian authorities are working to “counteract numerous cases of desertion” among Russian units in the Luhansk region by sending out SMS messages threatening criminal liability for leaving the battlefield.
“In order to counteract numerous cases of desertion in units of the russian occupation forces in the territories of Luhansk region, SMS messages are being sent to subscribers of the Lugacom mobile network with a warning about criminal liability for leaving the places of service and permanent deployment points of military units,” the update reads.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor.