Major blow to Putin as 1,200 Russians killed in just 24 hours in bloody battle for Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv

VLADIMIR Putin is suffering brutal battlefield losses as his troops advance on Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv.

As many as 1,210 Russian troops died in 24 hours when waves of soldiers poured across the border to capture strategic military towns.

East2West

Blast at the oil plant in Tuapse, Russia, struck by drone[/caption]

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Resolute front line Ukrainian forces defend Kharkiv[/caption]

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Ukrainian soldiers take part in assault training[/caption]

The city in north east Ukraine is under constant bombardment from artillery fire, missiles and drone strikes.

But Ukrainian military chiefs say the Russian tyrant’s assault is coming at a terrible price.

As well as the loss of troops, another 16 tanks and 48 artillery systems were also destroyed in fierce fighting.

Ukraine unleashed its own wave of drone attacks on occupied Crimea — sinking a Black Sea Fleet minesweeper.

It also targeted and exploded a major Russian oil refinery in Tuapse with a kamikaze drone. Referring to boxing heavyweight champion

Oleksandr Usyk’s win against Brit Tyson Fury, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ukrainians hit hard! In the end, all our opponents will be overcome.

“Oleksandr Usyk is the world champion! A battle that proves Ukrainian endurance and strength give birth to Ukrainian victory.”

Mr Zelensky has also signed off two new laws to increase troop numbers.

They will allow prisoners to join the army and increase fines for draft dodgers fivefold.

More than 10,000 Kharkiv residents have already been evacuated.

The Sun was in the city yesterday as more Russian missiles hit and sporadic fighting continued on the border.

Five civilians were killed and 16 injured in one air strike.

A football pitch and cemetery were also destroyed by laser-guided glide-bombs — which have pop-out wings and a range of 25 miles.

Meanwhile, 50,000 of Putin’s troops have gathered on the border near Kharkiv but experts say he will need more for a full-scale assault.

Ukraine’s forces continued to repel the enemy despite being outnumbered and outgunned.

Generals said Russian troops were advancing towards Vovchansk and towns near Kharkiv.

They fired 400 kamikaze drones in response.

A military source said: “The situation at the front remains tense. Ukrainian defenders are repelling the Russian occupiers, strengthening our defence and, under favourable conditions, counter-attacking.”

On his state visit to China, Putin denied troops were set to capture the city and said they were creating a buffer zone.

But Ukraine’s Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said Russia is also planning to target the cities of Sumy, Donetsk, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia.