Russia acknowledges a “significant” troop loss but believes the invasion will be over soon.

The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dimitri Peskov, acknowledged that the Russian Army had suffered a “significant” loss of troops in Ukraine, but added that the “operation” in the neighboring country could conclude “in the coming days.”

In an interview for Sky News, Peskov has recognized the casualties suffered by the Russian Army, which he has classified as “a great tragedy” for Moscow. In this sense, he has remarked that the Kremlin “is doing everything possible” to put an end to what Russia has defined as a “special operation” in Ukraine.

“We hope that in the coming days, in the foreseeable future, this operation will achieve its objectives or end with the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations,” said the Russian president’s spokesman, Vladimir Putin.

Asked about NATO’s position on the war in Eastern Europe, Peskov stressed the need to “rebalance the situation” and “take additional steps to ensure Russia‘s own security. “

“We are firmly convinced that NATO is a combative machine.” It is not a friendly alliance (…). It was built for confrontation, and the main reason for its existence is to confront our country,” he lamented.

Attacks in Bucha and Mariupol

Regarding the images of dozens of civilians killed in the streets of the city of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Peskov has asserted that they are a “bold falsification” and that “days of falsifications and lies” are currently being experienced.

“We deny that the Russian Army has anything to do with these atrocities that showed dead bodies in the streets of Bucha,” Peskov said, echoing recent Russian statements and thus denying his possible involvement in this event.

When commenting on the civilian deaths in the framework of the war, Peskov has refused to make a balance because the figures of deceased citizens are not confirmed by both parties.

Similarly, the Kremlin spokesman has referred to the attack on a hospital in the city of Mariupol, besieged by Russian troops for several days and that “will be liberated” from the Ukrainian authorities “sooner rather than later”.

“We have very serious reasons to believe that it was false and we insist on that,” Peskov stressed. At least four people were killed and 16 others were injured in the incident on March 9.