Russia signals it’s been DEFEATED in bid to topple Kyiv as Kremlin says it’ll focus only on ‘liberating’ separatists

RUSSIA appears to have admitted it has been defeated in its bid to topple Kyiv as the Kremlin says it will now only focus on “liberating” separatists. Moscow signalled it was scaling back its invasion in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists as the fierce resistance reoccupy towns up to 21 miles east of the capital. Reutershe Russian army said the first phase of its military campaign[/caption] ReutersThe quick victory promised by Putin has turned into a bloodbath[/caption] ReutersSmoke billows from a Russian ship at the port of Berdiansk[/caption] The Russian army said the first phase of its military campaign was over and troops will now focus on the complete “liberation” of the country’s eastern Donbas region. Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, said: “The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. “The combat potential of Ukraine’s armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows (us) – I emphasise once again – to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbas.” He claimed Russian forces had “practically” destroyed Ukraine’s air force and anti-aircraft defences, as well as the navy. Read more on the Ukraine war NUKE FEARS Nuke threat soars as Chernobyl shelling resumes & Putin makes Boris enemy SICK THREAT 'Butcher of Mariupol' asks why soldier hasn’t been MUTILATED for wrong uniform But Rudskoi said the Russian army did not rule out further attacks on Ukrainian cities – claiming the assaults had not been planned. “Initially, we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimise losses among personnel and civilians,” he told reporters. “Although we do not rule out such a possibility, however, as individual groupings complete their assigned tasks… our forces and means will concentrate on the main thing – the complete liberation of Donbas,.” Putin’s troops have been hit by plummeting morale after the quick victory promised by the tyrant has turned into a bloodbath in the face of Ukrainian resistance. Most read in News SICK THREAT 'Butcher of Mariupol' asks why soldier hasn’t been MUTILATED for wrong uniform DEATH PLUNGE Boy, 14, dies after falling from 400ft ride in front of horrified witnesses KILLER ON LOOSE Urgent warning as killer escapes from jail & police warn 'do NOT approach' NO TIME FOR TEARS I grabbed girl's hand & said 'run, we'll cry later' reveals Ukrainian mum DEVIL DOG Breed that mauled baby Bella-Rae week after parents bought it confirmed by police 'IT'S HELL' Terrified Russian soldier tells gran he wants to 'get the f*** out of Ukraine' Ukraine is close to securing a major victory as British defence officials said there was now a “realistic possibility” that the towns of Bucha and Irpin would be encircled by Ukrainian forces. The Ministry of Defence said Russian troops are facing “considerable supply and morale issues” and it was unlikely they would be able to regroup and capture Kyiv. But Ukraine said talks with Moscow continued to be “very difficult” and vowed not to back down on its demands, more than a month into Russia’s invasion. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. “The negotiation process is very difficult. “The Ukrainian delegation has taken a strong position and does not relinquish its demands. “We insist, first of all, on a ceasefire, security guarantees, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” It comes as… At least 300 people died after a theatre in Mariupol was shelled last week, Ukrainian authorities have claimedA terrified Russian soldier has revealed they expected the war to be over in two weeks, in an intercepted phone call to his granIn a further blow to Putin, Ukraine has reportedly pushed Russian troops out of the capital KyivUS President Joe Biden has warned Nato WILL respond if Russia uses chemical weapons in UkraineA Ukrainian refugee has given a heartbreaking account of how she dodged bodies as Putin’s shells landed around herPutin’s alleged secret family has come to light as he continues his brutal invasion of Ukraine Ukraine is now littered with the burnt out wrecks of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles, charred remains of downed aircraft, and the dead bodies of soldiers – many of who were teenage conscripts. As the fighting takes its toll on Russian troops, stories are beginning to emerge of anger and plummeting morale. One soldier allegedly drove his tank into his commanding officer as he protested horrific losses among his comrades. Colonel Yuri Medvedev was hospitalised with severe leg injuries after the reported incident. Russia accidentally revealed it has lost 10,000 troops, when the figure was disclosed by a pro-Kremlin newspaper. But NATO has said that figure could be as high as 15,000 with the total losses including wounded, captured or missing up to 40,000. If the estimate is correct, then Russian losses in just under a month in Ukraine are now the same as they suffered during their ten year war in Afghanistan, which ended in 1989. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his country to keep up its military defence and not stop “even for a minute”. He used his nightly video address to rally Ukrainians to “move toward peace, move forward”. Read More on The Sun SICK THREAT 'Butcher of Mariupol' asks why soldier hasn’t been MUTILATED for wrong uniform ROYAL RIBBING My pal Prince Harry BLACKLISTED me over very cheeky joke, says Jack Whitehall He said: “With every day of our defence, we are getting closer to the peace that we need so much. “We can’t stop even for a minute, for every minute determines our fate, our future, whether we will live.”