Vlad's retreat

‘16,000 DEAD RUSSIANS FORCES PUTIN RETHINK’

- JOHN WARD

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his army’s “powerful blows” have pushed back invading Russian forces.

In a video address posted online, he claimed 16,000 of Vladimir Putin’s troops have died so far.

His words came as Moscow signalled it is scaling back its war effort.

Officials say it will focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists in the east after attacks elsewhere stalled.