Zelensky says 16,000 Russian troops dead as humiliated Putin faces ‘defeat’ in Kyiv and Ukraine tries to retake Kherson

PRESIDENT Zelensky said 16,000 Russian troops are dead as his soldiers prepared to retake the first city that Putin seized.  The Ukrainian leader, 44, said his troops delivered powerful blows to Moscow’s forces and urged the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the war.  AFPUkraine could recapture Kherson today[/caption] AFPZelensky said Russia had lost 16,000 troops[/caption] EPAPutin’s forces are said to be refocusing on “liberating” the Donbas region[/caption] But he warned he would never let any Ukrainian territory be handed over to tyrant Putin, 69, in a deal.  It came as adviser to Ukraine’s ministry of defence Markian Lubkivskyi predicted troops could take back Kherson in the south today.  But he said he was sceptical over the Russian President’s claims his forces will no longer try to take the whole nation.  He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “We cannot believe the statements from Moscow because there’s still a lot of untruth and lies from that side. READ MORE ON UKRAINE WAR VLAD'S BUTCHERS Inside Putin’s bloodthirsty top brass who bomb hospitals and gas kids SICK THREAT 'Butcher of Mariupol' asks why soldier hasn’t been MUTILATED for wrong uniform “That’s why we understand the goal of Putin still is the whole of Ukraine. “We can see now that the enemy is focused on the eastern part of Ukraine but we are ready for any kind of attacks in different Ukrainian places. “I believe that today the city will be fully under the control of Ukrainian armed forces. “We have finished in the last two days the operation in the Kyiv region so other armed forces are now focused on the southern part trying to get free Kherson and some other Ukrainian cities.” Most read in News ARMS RACE Putin's nuclear threats 'creating DANGEROUS arms race' as troops pull out of Kyiv TRAGIC FIND Brit, 22, found dead at bottom of well with his dog near village in the Algarve PURE EVIL ‘Sadistic’ teen, 17, GRINS in mugshot after helping vile thugs murder doctor MURDER PROBE Mum, 40, found stabbed to death after not turning up to school to collect kids SECONDS FROM DEATH Video shows boy's harness was not buckled before he fell from 400ft ride BOTTLED IT? Russia 'DEFEATED' in battle for Kyiv and will now only ‘liberate’ separatists Kherson fell earlier this month as Russia’s first major gain in the war. And today President Zelensky told Qatar’s Doha Forum that Russia’s bragging about its nuclear power is fuelling a dangerous arms race. Kremlin officials yesterday said its forces will not only focus on “liberating” pro-Moscow separatist regions in eastern Donbas. But Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, did not rule out further attacks on Ukrainian cities – claiming the assaults had not been planned. 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 'DEVASTATED' Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins dies aged 50 BOTTLED IT? Russia 'DEFEATED' in battle for Kyiv and will now only ‘liberate’ separatists 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.”