Russia-Ukraine war: America says number of Russian troop casualties tops 7000

A US intelligence official has estimated the number of Russian troops killed during the war in Ukraine has topped 7000. They say a further 20,000 could be injured.

The number is enough to render units unable to carry out combat tasks.

The figures have been quoted to The New York Times by an American official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Times notes that figures are "inexact" but that intelligence officials came to the figures by analysis of "the news media, Ukrainian figures (which tend to be high, with the latest at 13,500), Russian figures (which tend to be low, with the latest at 498), satellite imagery and careful perusal of video images of Russian tanks and troops that come under fire".

A Ukrainian national guard soldier inspects a Russian damaged military vehicle in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo / AP

There are more than 150,000 troops believed to have been stationed outside Ukraine before war broke out three weeks ago.

If correct, the estimated tally means Russia has suffered more casualties in three weeks than the United States did across two decades in Afghanistan.

American international affairs and Russia expert Tom Nichols said it was "an astonishing amount of casualties".

This is an astonishing number of casualties. If the Pentagon's 7000 figure is correct, that's more than twice as many deaths as we took in 20 years in Afghanistan in *just three weeks*.
The implications for Russia are immense. /1 https://t.co/ETXrxQxZXv

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 17, 2022

Pentagon officials say the damage sustained by Russia will impact the will of Russian troops.

It comes as the latest intelligence from the UK's Ministry of Defence reveals Russian forces are likely resorting to using older weapons because the war is being drawn out longer than they expected or were prepared for.

Satellite images show devastation across Ukraine

Satellite images taken from different parts of Ukraine have shown the damage and destruction inflicted by the ongoing missile attacks and shelling from Russian forces.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows burning buildings in a residential area in northeast Chernihiv, Ukraine. Photo / AP

This satellite image shows destroyed apartment buildings and a church after the Russian invasion, in Sumy, Ukraine. Photo / AP

This satellite image shows a damaged Olympic sports training centre during the Russian invasion, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Photo / AP

This satellite image shows burning and heavily damaged apartment buildings and the destroyed Port City shopping mall in western Mariupol, Ukraine. Photo / AP

UN members call emergency meeting

The United Kingdom, United States, Albania, France, Norway and Ireland have requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting Thursday because of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, diplomatic sources said.

🚨 #BREAKING 🚨

The UK and 🇦🇱🇫🇷🇮🇪🇳🇴🇺🇸 have called for a Security Council meeting on #Ukraine.

Russia is committing war crimes and targeting civilians.

Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine is a threat to us all. pic.twitter.com/SRi76OAszm

— UK at the UN 🇬🇧 (@UKUN_NewYork) March 16, 2022

"Russia is committing war crimes and targeting civilians," the British diplomatic mission to the UN said Wednesday on its Twitter account.

"Russia's illegal war on Ukraine is a threat to us all."

Zelensky says WWIII may have 'already started'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that World War III may have already begun, following fears from the West that enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine could escalate the situation even further.

Speaking to NBC News' Lester Holt, Mr Zelensky said WWIII "may have already started".

"Nobody knows whether it may have already started. And what is the possibility of this war if Ukraine will fall, in case Ukraine will? It's very hard to say," the Ukrainian President said.

A Ukrainian soldier passes a destroyed a trolleybus and taxi after a Russian bombing attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Photo / AP

"And we've seen this 80 years ago, when the second World War had started … nobody would be able to predict when the full scale war would start."

Zelensky's comments come after he urged Biden to become the "leader of the free world" and impose even more sanctions on Russia.

Biden then announced an US$800 million military assistance package, however, the US and its allies have said going as far to enforce a no-fly zone over the Ukraine could result in an all out war.

Search for survivors in theatre

Rescuers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theatre blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol, while a ferocious bombardment left dozens dead in a northern city over the past day, authorities said.

Hundreds of civilians had been taking shelter in the grand, columned theatre in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the southern port city.

Nearly a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With much of the city cut off from the flow of information, there were also conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

"We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theatre could survive," Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes.

Other officials had said earlier that some people had gotten out. Ukraine's ombudswoman, Ludmyla Denisova, said on the Telegram messaging app that the shelter had held up.

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar technology showed huge white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the theatre spelling out "CHILDREN" in Russian — "DETI" — to alert warplanes to those inside.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

Your urgent donation will provide vital essentials for children & families affected by the crisis in Ukraine. Please click here to donate now at worldvision.org.nz