The U.K. Defense Ministry assessed that Russian military death tolls during three months of war in Ukraine equaled casualties from the nine-year Soviet-Afghan War, attributing high losses to poor low-level tactics, limited air cover, lack of flexibility, and a command approach that reinforces failure.

Russia's death toll during 3 months in Ukraine same as during 9-year Afghanistan war

Poor low-level tactics led to Russia's increasing losses in Ukraine

Limited air cover led to Russia's increasing losses in Ukraine

Lack of flexibility led to Russia's increasing losses in Ukraine

Command approach that reinforces failure led to Russia's increasing losses in Ukraine

British military intelligence states that Russian casualties in Ukraine for the first three months are likely equivalent to Soviet losses in Afghanistan over nine years.

High Russian casualty levels are attributed to poor low-level tactics, limited air cover, and lack of flexible command approaches.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Azovstal defenders should be released according to the prisoner exchange procedure.

Zelenskyy stated that military command had passed a signal to those blocked at Azovstal giving them the right to leave and save their lives.

Zelenskyy indicated that the process of withdrawal and preparation for dialogue depends on the UN, Red Cross, and Russia.