Kremlin spokesman admits to ‘significant losses’ of Russian troops in bungled invasion of Ukraine, as army hit by mutiny

A KREMLIN spokesman has admitted to “significant losses” of Russian troops in the bungled invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin‘s left-hand man Dmitry Peskov said the losses were a “huge tragedy” for Russia. Dmitry Peskov admitted to ‘significant losses’ of Russian troopsAP East2WestRussian families have been burying their loved ones returning from the front line in Ukraine[/caption] East2WestUp to 18,500 Russian soldiers are reported to have died so far[/caption] The Kremlin press secretary denied the high losses amounted to a humiliation for Moscow in an interview with Sky News. He said: “No, it’s a wrong understanding of what’s going on.” But he later admitted: “We have significant losses of troops and it’s a huge tragedy for us.” It comes as the Russian death toll in Ukraine reportedly nears 20,000, according to Ukrainian estimates. READ MORE ON UKRAINE GET OUT! Humiliated Putin battered as Russians 'evaporate' in Kyiv but genocide fears grow 'I KILLED HIM' Seven details in case of Russian mom who 'killed son over Ukraine war fears' A senior NATO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told AP that figure could be as high as 40,000 captured, injured or dead Russian troops. This has prompted Russian elite paratroopers to stage a mutiny after witnessing their comrades being wiped out in battle, reports claim. The soldiers were from key airborne forces headquarters in Pskov in northern Russia. The refusenik troops had been moved to Belarus as part of the invasion force but after their mutiny, they were sent in disgrace back to their base in Pskov. Most read in The Sun TRAGIC CRASH Newlywed dad dead and bride fighting for life weeks after they tied the knot PRI-MANIA First look at Primark's new website with THOUSANDS of items to browse JADE'S BOY Jade Goody’s son Bobby reveals heartbreaking reason why he doesn’t miss her AFTER SHOCK Warning to anyone who's had Covid in last 6 months over new deadly side-effect FILL YER BOATS! Brazen crooks siphon off £250,000 of diesel from Royal Navy warship SI YOU LATER Holiday chaos as Spain makes U-turn after saying unvaccinated Brits can visit Some have been dismissed and branded “cowards” while others are set to face the Russian equivalent of a court-martial with likely jail sentences. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is reported to have sent one of his deputies to Pskov to handle the insubordination. Ukraine claimed that the 60 or so troops were elite paratroopers but this is not so far confirmed, even though they are from Pskov, a key HQ of Russia’s most elite airborne forces. Russian opposition outlet Pskovskaya Guberniya reported: “About 60 servicemen from Pskov refused to go to war on Ukrainian territory, according to our sources. “After the first days of the war, they were first brought to the Republic of Belarus, and then they returned to their base in Pskov. “Most of them are currently being dismissed, but some are threatened with criminal cases.” It is the latest of several cases of Russian troops refusing to obey Vladimir Putin’s orders to invade Ukraine and “denazify” the country. An earlier captive Russian soldier from Pskov, Vladimir Safronov, 23, told his Ukrainian interrogators about problems with rations, and how his officers were looting the civilian population. “Things are bad with food, we are constantly saving it,” he said. “Very often we have a situation that a ration for one person is shared between two people. “We are eating mostly what we find inside [civilian] houses [in occupied Ukraine].” He went on: “There is a lot of looting, I’ve personally seen it. “I don’t support it, it was mainly senior sergeants and the commander who did it… “I saw civilians who were hiding, people who were unable to evacuate, who lived in constant fear. “I felt awfully sorry for them, it was scary to find them.” It comes as… Ukraine urged its people to flee or ‘face death’ in the far east of the war-torn country as Russia prepares to launch a new bloodbath.Russian troops allegedly executed a Ukrainian woman’s husband in front of her.New footage reveals trenches dug by Russian soldiers at Chernobyl, reportedly leaving them struck down with radiation sickness.Ukrainian officials have warned the horrors in the town of Borodyanka will be ‘worse than Bucha‘President Zelensky has compared Putin’s savage troops to ISIS monstersVideo captured the shocking moment Russian army vehicles ‘fired on a cyclist’ in Bucha Earlier reports said that elite OMON special forces troops from Khakassia had refused to fight. In another case, troops from the unofficial statelet South Ossetia reportedly went on foot back to their homes after refusing to participate in hostilities in Ukraine. It comes as earlier this week shocking footage showed bodies of Russian soldiers piled up after they were allegedly ambushed in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine.  The clip also shows ordinary goods such as frying pans and children’s toys allegedly looted by the soldiers. Putin’s army has been repeatedly obliterated by Ukrainian fighters who have put up strong resistance, leading the Russian tyrant to resort to the merciless bombing of civilians. Dramatic drone footage showed a Ukrainian tank taking on an entire Russian column, destroying several vehicles. Russian forces have lost thousands of vehicles in the war in Ukraine including hundreds of tanks and over 1800 other armoured vehicles. Read More on The Sun 'ANIMAL' Sabina's parents blast killer as 'ANIMAL' as he cowers in cell afraid to face them CABIN FEVER Katie Price & ex Kris spotted at same £500-a-night cabins after Carl split A UK spy chief previously claimed that Russian forces were even sabotaging their own weapons and refused to carry out orders amid a rise in battlefield losses. Russian marines reportedly staged a mutiny last month and defied orders to attack the strategic port of Odesa. EPAUkrainian soldiers have regained control of areas around Kyiv[/caption] EPAUkrainian fighters retook the Nova Basan village of Kyiv[/caption] East2WestParatroopers in Pskov pictured during training in 2019[/caption] Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund