Vladimir Putin has suffered a severe defeat as an entire battalion of men refused to battle on despite heavy losses.

Following defeats in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's Armed Forces said that troops from the Russian Armed Forces' 1st Army Corps' motorized rifle brigade had refused to fight.

This follows reports that Russian military are attempting to exit Ukraine through forged marriages. According to observers, Russian military are morally dejected and may soon run out of combat-ready divisions, Express reported.

Russian Troops' Fallout

In the latest setback to Vladimir Putin's invasion ambitions, Russian soldiers battling in Ukraine have lost two more high-ranking commanders. Early expectations that Ukraine would succumb to the Russian invasion were swiftly dispelled when robust resistance slowed the invading army, forcing the Kremlin to reconsider its plan.

The newest two colonels murdered, including one of Russia's youngest to gain such a high position, bring the total number of Russian colonels killed throughout the deadly fight to at least 52.

On Putin's instructions, Lt-Col Vadim Gerasimov, a battalion commander from the Leningrad area, was posthumously granted the country's highest honor, the Hero of Russia. His burial was held today in the Leningrad area, and his wife is anticipated to receive his Order of Courage posthumously.

He was the father of a girl and a graduate of the elite Frunze military college. Colonel Ruslan Shirin, a brigade commander who died bravely in battle, is the second high-ranking officer whose death was reported today.

The Order of Courage was posthumously presented to the chief of staff of the 336th Separate Guards Marine Brigade, which is part of the Baltic Fleet.

The news came two days after the death of the 50th colonel, artillery commander Lt Col Vladimir Nigmatullin, 46, a father of three from Yekaterinburg. Major-General Roman Kutuzov, the chief of staff of the 29th Combined Arms Army, was Russia's 11th general of the fight. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General posthumously, according to Mirror.

Read Also: Former Moldovan President Dodon Warned That Pro-EU Stance Could Lead to NATO Presence in Chisinau

Ukraine Claims War Situation Remains Manageable

Ukraine reported on Thursday that it was losing up to 100 soldiers per day in frontline fighting against Russian troops, and that up to 500 people had been injured in clashes. Ukrainian army fought for the industrial zone and surrounding territories in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, which Kyiv controls.

On Thursday, Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said the situation is challenging but manageable, and Kyiv declared Russian soldiers are now in charge of the city itself. He added that despite heavy Russian artillery bombardment, the defense lines were holding but that it was now difficult to evacuate civilians from Sievierodonetsk.

He went on to say that roughly 10,000 residents remained in the city, which is currently the focal point of Russia's attack in Ukraine. After being rejected from other sections of the nation, the important city has become the focal point of Russia's attack as it aims to conquer an eastern swath of Ukraine.

Another regional Ukrainian official stated Thursday that Western long-range artillery will allow Ukraine to defeat Russian soldiers and take Severodonetsk within days. As part of its plans to seize a swath of eastern Ukraine, Moscow's soldiers are focussing their firepower on the strategically crucial industrial region, as per Daily Mail.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Officially Admits Reason for War Is To Reclaim "Their Land", Warns Against Claims That Russia Is Defeated After Several Retreats

@YouTube