MOSCOW (TSAT) - Russia Defense Ministry said that the first phase of its military operation in Ukraine has been completed and claimed to have killed over 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers during the last one month.

During a press briefing on Friday, the head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russian forces, Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy said 26% of Ukrainian forces strength have been eliminated including over 16,000 of its troops seriously wounded.

He added that during the ongoing military operation, 1,351 Russian soldiers were also killed and 3,825 other wounded. 

Russia launched its military attacks on Ukraine on Feb. 24 and fighting still continues as now Russian troops targeting the major cities of the country. 

“Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles that were in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed [including] 636 units out of 1,509 field artillery guns and mortars; 163 out of 535 MLRS; 112 out of 152 aircraft, 75 out of 149 helicopters; 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs - 35,” claimed the Russian senior military official.

He added that the Ukraine air defense system has been completely destroyed and its airspace is now under Russian control. 

“As a result, Russian troops blocked Kiev, Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy and Nikolaev. Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under full control,” Gen. Rudskoy said.

“The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of blocked Ukrainian cities.

“These actions are carried out with the aim of causing such damage to military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the results of which allow not only to shackle their forces and do not give them the opportunity to strengthen their grouping in the Donbass, but also will not allow them to do so until the Russian army completely liberates the territories of the DPR and LPR,” he added.

He claimed that 276 settlements of Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics that were under Ukrainian military control, were now liberated. 

“Demilitarization of Ukraine is achieved both by high-precision strikes on military infrastructure facilities, locations of formations and military units, airfields, control points, arsenals and warehouses of weapons and military equipment, and by the actions of troops to defeat opposing enemy groupings,” said the Russian General.

“Currently, the Ukrainian air forces and the air defense system have been almost completely destroyed. The naval forces of the country ceased to exist.

“The supply of missiles and ammunition, fuel and food to Ukrainian forces has been almost completely halted,” he claimed and adding the Lugansk People's Republic militia have been librated their 93% of their territory. 

Heavy fighting now continues in the outskirts of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk including in Mariupol.

While the Russian troops along with Donetsk People's Republic militia heading the west of Donetsk area. 

He accused the Ukrainian authorities of using civilians as shields and not allowing them to leave the cities. 

“The militants of the Azov battalion drive women and children out of the basements, threatening them with weapons, and send them towards the advancing units of the DPR in order to hinder the advance of the people's militia. This has become a common practice for them,” he accused.

- Foreign fighters arrivals in Russia, Ukraine 

Russia claimed that 6,595 foreign mercenaries have arrived in Ukraine from 62 countries after President Zeleenskyy appealed last month to join them in the fight against Russian forces.

“They [foreign fighters] are not subject to the rules of war and will be ruthlessly destroyed,” the Russian General warned.

However, he claimed that now the number of foreign fighters is declining after Russian troops targeted their bases and training camps on March 13 and killed at least 200 foreigners and 400 others wounded in Starichi and Yavorovskii.

“I note that not a single foreign mercenary has arrived in Ukraine in the last seven days. On the contrary, there has been an outflow. Within a week, 285 fighters escaped into Poland, Hungary, and Romania, I hope without Stingers and Javelins,” he said. 

Meanwhile, 23,000 foreign fighters from 37 countries also arrived to help the Russian forces but Gen. Rudskoy didn’t share more details and names of countries from where these fighters joined them.

- Weapons supplies by western countries 

Russia says that since last month, the western countries have supplied 109 field artillery guns, 3,800 anti-tank weapons, including Javelin, Milan, Konkurs, NLAW ATGM, M-72, Panzerfaust-3, 897 Stinger, and Igla MANPADS to Ukraine.

“We consider it a vast mistake for Western countries to supply weapons to Kiev. This delays the conflict increases the number of victims and will not be able to influence the outcome of the operation,” he said.

He warned that they are closely monitoring the western leaders’ statements and their military activities and if they supply aircraft and air defense systems to Kyiv, will face a tough response from Moscow. 

“We also hear assurances from NATO leaders about non-interference in the conflict. At the same time, some member states of the North Atlantic Alliance propose to close the airspace over Ukraine. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will immediately respond accordingly to such attempts,” said the Russian General.

According to the UN estimates, so far over 1,000 civilians have been killed and over 1,700 others wounded while more than 3.7 million fled the country and 6.5 million displaced inside the country.