Russian troops trying to turn war into partially 'protracted phase' - Podoliak

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said this in a statement released on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, the reason for such tactics is excessive losses in the manpower and equipment of the enemy, as well as the lack of any significant progress in all directions.

"They cannot hide all this from their audience. Therefore, the Russian leadership is trying to use other tactics. In order to dramatically reduce the number of casualties to an acceptable level (from a propaganda point of view) and not to get a few hundred dead every day, including top and middle commanders," Podoliak added.

According to him, in order to reduce all types of losses and try to "clean up" their rear from disloyal elements (almost 90-95% of the civilian population), the Russians are trying to introduce new mandatory elements in their military tactics. In particular, enemy troops are partially digging in - such a concentration of forces and means of destruction around large Ukrainian cities is used to create a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe there.

Podoliak stressed that this tactic is absolutely cannibalistic and has clear legal definitions in international law in the area of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On February 24, Russian leader Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure, residential neighborhoods of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.