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LAND OF THE DEAD

Russia has now lost 30,000 soldiers in Ukraine as Putin warned to bring his troops home or face ‘even more orphans’

RUSSIA has now lost a total of 30,000 soldiers in Vladimir Putin's disastrous war in Ukraine.

As the chaotic invasion has caused devastating losses for Russia, Putin has been warned to bring his troops back home or "risk more orphans".

Russia has lost 1330 tanks since the start of the invasion
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Russia has lost 1330 tanks since the start of the invasionCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The Russian leader has now lost 30,000 troops, 207 planes and 174 helicopters in the war, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russian troops suffered significant losses in the past 24 hours on the Avdiivka and Kryvyi Rih fronts, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Footage released yesterday shows British and US volunteer soldiers blowing up a Russian tank with a rocket launcher.

While earlier this week, another video showed a Russian tank erupting into a fireball after a Ukrainian kamikaze drone smashed into it.

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It comes as a veteran legislator issued an appeal to Putin to bring back his troops amid growing Russian protests about the war.

Speaking during a regional assembly in the Primorsky region, Communist deputy Leonid Vasyukevich, 69, blasted the use of Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

He said: “We are backing measures to support families of servicemen killed during the special military operation.

“We understand that unless our country stops the special military operation, there will be even more orphans. 

“Young men die and are maimed during the operation, even though they could have benefited our country.”

The brave local MP added that three months have passed since the start of the war “and it is clearly impossible to reach success by a military way”.

He said if Putin continues it “will inevitably lead to an increase in numbers of killed and wounded servicemen," concluding by demanding the “immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine”.

However, Putin’s supporters have branded him a “traitor” and he may now face legal action for dishonouring the Russian army. 

The appeal comes amid growing evidence of a backlash against the war in Russia. 

Rock concerts have become venues for protests against the conflict in Ukraine.

As many as 16 military recruitment offices have been hit by Molotov cocktails in defiance over bids to surge enlistment into the army through conscription.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser and peace talks negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said today that any agreement with Russia cannot be trusted and Moscow can only be stopped in its invasion by force.

"Any agreement with Russia isn't worth a broken penny, Podolyak wrote on the Telegram.

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"Is it possible to negotiate with a country that always lies cynically and propagandistically?"

"Russia has proved that it is a barbarian country that threatens world security," Podolyak said. "A barbarian can only be stopped by force."

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