Ukrainian troops 'have killed 15,000 of Russia's invading forces'

TOPSHOT - A man with his bicycle walks between debris outside the destroyed Retroville shopping mall in a residential district, after a Russian attack on the Ukranian capital Kyiv on March 21, 2022. - At least six people were killed in the overnight bombing of a shopping centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an AFP journalist said, with rescuers combing the wreckage for other victims. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A man with his bicycle walks between debris on Monday outside the destroyed Retroville shopping mall in a residential district of Kyiv, Ukraine, after a Russian attack. (AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine says it has killed 15,000 of Russia's troops since its invasion began.

The country's military branch, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on Monday that a large proportion of Russia's total invading troops are dead.

Russia started its invasion on 24 February with an estimated force of 190,000 troops.

Ukraine's military also claimed that it had taken out a number of the enemy's armoury and artillery, the Kyiv Independent reported.

Watch: Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko says he cries 'every day' at destruction Putin has caused

Officials said they had destroyed 1,535 armoured personnel carriers, 498 tanks, 969 vehicles, 240 pieces of artillery, 45 anti-aircraft systems, 80 rocket launcher systems, 97 planes and 121 helicopters.

Meanwhile, eight people were reported dead on Monday following Russian shelling on a residential area and shopping centre in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

In the port city of Mariupol, which has been under heavy Russian bombardment, an estimated 300,000 people are trapped without food, water or power.

Ukraine ignored a demand from Russia to give up the city by 5am Moscow time on Monday, saying the invaders' pledge to temporarily halt its attack could not be trusted.

MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 21: A screen grab captured from a video shows destroyed buildings and vehicles after Russian attacks in Mariupol, Ukraine on March 21, 2022. (Photo by AA/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Destroyed buildings and vehicles after Russian attacks in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Monday. (Getty Images)
MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 20: Civilians trapped in Mariupol city under Russian attacks, are evacuated in groups under the control of pro-Russian separatists, through other cities, in Mariupol, Ukraine on March 20, 2022. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Civilians trapped in Mariupol city under Russian attacks are evacuated in groups under the control of pro-Russian separatists, on Sunday. (Getty Images)
MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 20: Destroyed buildings are seen as civilians trapped in Mariupol city under Russian attacks, are evacuated in groups under the control of pro-Russian separatists, through other cities, in Mariupol, Ukraine on March 20, 2022. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Destroyed buildings in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. (Getty Images)

 

It accused Russia of trying to starve out its citizens in the city.

Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun also claimed its citizens in Mariupol are being abducted and deported to "distant parts of Russia" to work in conditions akin to slave labour.

Speaking to Times Radio, she said Russia was following “the logic of Nazi Germany”.

“From what we know from the city mayor and the city council, is they are taking Ukrainian citizens,” she said.

A Ukranian serviceman walks between debris inside the Retroville shopping mall after a Russian attack on the northwest of the capital Kyiv on March 21, 2022. - At least six people were killed in the overnight bombing of a shopping centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an AFP journalist said, with rescuers combing the wreckage for other victims. The 10-storey building was hit by a powerful blast that pulverised vehicles in its car park and left a crater several metres (yards) wide. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A Ukranian serviceman walks between debris inside the Retroville shopping mall after a Russian attack on the north-west of the capital Kyiv on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images)

The UK's foreign secretary, Liz Truss, said she was "appalled" by the claims.

On Sunday, a Russian bomb destroyed an art school in Mariupol where 400 people had taken shelter, with rescuers searching for people possibly trapped under the rubble.

Only days before the shelling, there was a separate attack on a theatre in the city where more than 1,000 people were said to have been hiding.

Read more: Ukraine releases powerful video showing devastation of Russian invasion

Truss said: “I am appalled by Russian atrocities in Mariupol, including attacks on schools sheltering civilians and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainians."

She said Russian president Vladimir Putin is "resorting to desperate measures as he is not achieving his objectives".

TOPSHOT - A man stand looking at the burning and destroyed Retroville shopping mall after a Russian attack on the northwest of the capital Kyiv on March 21, 2022. - At least six people were killed in the overnight bombing of a shopping centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an AFP journalist said, with rescuers combing the wreckage for other victims. The 10-storey building was hit by a powerful blast that pulverised vehicles in its car park and left a crater several metres (yards) wide. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A man stands looking at the burning and destroyed Retroville shopping mall after a Russian attack on the northwest of the capital Kyiv on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images)

On Monday, health secretary Sajid Javid said the UK could welcome hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees in the coming weeks.

After the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme opened at the weekend, Javid said those arriving in the UK would get all the support they needed.

General view of the site of a bombing at a shopping center as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 21, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
The view on Monday of the site of a bombing at a shopping centre as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv. (Reuters)
General view of the site of a bombing at a shopping center as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 21, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A shopping centre in Kyiv was destroyed by Russian shelling. (Reuters)
Firefighters work at the site of a bombing at a shopping center as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 21, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Firefighters work at the site of a bombing at a shopping centre as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, on Monday. (Reuters)
General view shows the site of a bombing at a shopping center, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 21, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A shopping centre in Kyiv was hit by Russian bombing. (Reuters)
PRZEMYSL, POLAND - MARCH 21: People, mainly women and children, arrive at Przemysl train station on a train from Odesa in war-torn Ukraine on March 21, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland. Nearly two-thirds of the more than 3 million people to have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion last month have come to Poland, which shares a 310-mile border with its eastern neighbor. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Ukrainian refugees arrive at Przemysl train station in Poland on Monday on a train from Odesa. (Getty Images)

Some 10,200 visas have been issued under the Ukraine family scheme as of 4pm on Sunday, the Home Office said on Monday.

A total of 31,500 applications have been submitted so far.

Javid said 150,000 people had expressed an interest in hosting refugees through the Homes for Ukraine programme.

Watch: Ukrainian orphans head to UK after escaping war

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