The UK defense ministry estimates that Russian troops and private military contractor Wagner Group forces have likely had 175,000 to 200,000 casualties since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

The ministry said on Friday that the number likely includes approximately 40,000 to 60,000 killed.

It added, "The Russian casualty rate has significantly increased since September 2022 when 'partial mobilisation' was imposed."

Russia is believed to be keeping up its military offensive on various parts of Ukraine.

Ukraine says that a Russian missile strike on Thursday hit a fuel facility in the central region of Poltava.

But the Russian defense ministry said on Friday that the target was a Ukrainian military facility and the strike resulted in cutting the supply of fuel to Ukrainian troops.

Russian forces continue to launch heavy attacks in Donbass in the eastern part of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Thursday called on about 6,000 civilians still in Bakhmut in the Donetsk region to evacuate immediately as they are in imminent danger.

Russia seems determined to capture Ukrainian strongholds despite its heavy casualties.