Ukraine news LIVE: Vladimir Putin’s elite tank unit RETREATS as Ukrainian counterattack sees Kyiv recapture crucial land

ONE of Putin’s most prestigious and trusted tank units, formed to defend Moscow from invasion, has been “severely degraded”  by Ukraine’s counteroffensive, reports claim. According to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), Moscow’s 1st Guards Tank Army has been devastated by the war in Ukraine. As reported by the Telegraph, the 500-tank-strong unit could take years to repair, following Ukrainians’ valiant efforts to liberate their country. “1st GTA suffered heavy casualties in the initial phase of the invasion and had not been fully reconstituted prior to the Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kharkiv,” the MoD reports. “Elements of the Russian forces withdrawn from Kharkiv Oblast over the last week were from the 1st Guards Tank Army, which are subordinate to the Western Military District. “1st GTA had been one of the most prestigious of Russia’s armies, allocated for the defence of Moscow, and intended to lead counter-attacks in the case of a war with Nato.” Currently, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence is reporting that Russia has lost a staggering 2,180 tanks since its brutal invasion began in February. This will undoubtedly be a major blow for Putin and his ambitions for Ukraine, with the MoD reporting today that Russia has “largely withdrawn” from Kharkiv in recent days. Ukrainian troops retook a large area of territory from Russia on Monday, pushing all the way back to the northeastern border in some places. Read our Ukraine-Russia blog below for the latest updates…