Ukraine: We Must 'Brace Ourselves' For What Russia Might Do Next, UK Defence Secretary Warns

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned Russia could escalate its attacks on major Ukrainian cities, as the invading force's plans continue to suffer setbacks.

Wallace said that the Ukrainian defence of its territory had led Russian troops to fall behind schedule while taking significant casualties and equipment losses, but issued a sobering caution about what could happen should Russia decide to change its approach.

'The Russian handbook is to get more violent and commit more forces,' Wallace told BBC Breakfast. 'We have to brace ourselves for what may come next which could be ruthless indiscriminate bombing of cities and the propelling forward of soldiers and high casualty levels and that's going to be horrific.'

According to the Ukrainian defence ministry, more than 4,500 Russian troops have been killed in the first five days of fighting. Foreign intelligence sources have not verified these claims, but the UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia has taken heavier than expected losses during the early stage of its invasion, and is believed to have failed to reach most of its key objectives thus far.

In an update provided this morning the MoD said that 'logistical failures and staunch Ukrainian resistance continue to frustrate the Russian advance.'

However, Wallace and other foreign officials have noted that as yet Russia has exercised relative restraint in its attacks on Ukraine's population centres, and warned that should its occupying forces continue to be frustrated, it may adopt more brutal tactics in an attempt to achieve its aims.

'They are behind schedule, they are taking significant casualities and they are feeling public rejection in parts of the Russian system including protests back home,' he said, adding that he believes Russian president Vladimir Putin may have 'miscalculated' the extent to which Ukrainians would oppose his actions.

The defence minister added that the potential for the war to enter a 'horrific' new stage meant that it was 'incredibly important' for Ukraine's western allies to continue to put pressure on Putin, saying 'he must realise that he is definitely on the wrong side of history here.'

Wallace's comments come as the UK government revealed that in a phone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy had said the next 24 hours would be a 'crucial period' for the country.

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