Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia

The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.

More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.

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Russian strike damages clinic, injuring 1: Ukrainian official

One person was injured after a Russian missile hit a medical clinic in the town of Krasnotorka, Ukraine, in the eastern Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian regional military chief Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a Facebook post.

-ABC News' Max Uzol


Zelenskyy says he's open to meet with Chinese president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Kyiv on Friday he would like to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Zelenskyy said he’d like to talk about the Chinese government's offer to discuss a peace agreement in detail, "because it’s about our country." However, the president noted that the Chinese government hasn't directly talked to Ukrainian's government.

"The first point of their plan is 'recognition of national sovereignty and territorial integrity,' but they didn’t even mention the country. I hope they meant us, Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. "If it’s us, everybody understands that territorial integrity can be achieved by withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied territories."

Zelenskyy said it is "priority number one" for him to prevent China from providing Russia with weapons for the ongoing conflict.

"I believe China is going to side with the idea of fair peace, peace and fairness which is our side," he added.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman


Nearly 200k Russian troops killed or wounded so far: Western officials

Western officials have provided a more detailed look at the scope of losses for Russia since its invasion began a year ago.

The range of Russian casualties is believed to be between 180,000 and 200,000, which includes killed and wounded figures, a U.S. official told ABC News. The official cautioned that this number is all inexact but also includes Wagner forces.

The ratio of wounded to killed soldiers is three to one among estimated Russian casualties of 175,000 to 200,000, Western officials told ABC News on Feb. 21.

On the Ukrainian side, there are "at least 100,000" Ukrainian casualties in the war so far with a ratio of 20 wounded soldiers to every dead soldier, Western officials said on Feb. 21.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez, Elle Kaufman and Zoe Magee


White House says Iran's support for Russia is expanding

The White House is now warning that Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine is "expanding" with the country sending additional military aid in November with the expectation that more will be obtained.

"In November, Iran shipped artillery and tank rounds to Russia for use in Ukraine," White House spokesperson John Kirby said Friday. "Russia is planning to cooperate with Iran to obtain more military equipment."

In return, Kirby said that Russia “has been offering Iran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics and air defense.”

“We believe that Russia might provide Iran with fighter jets. Iran is also seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia including attack helicopters, radars and combat trainer aircraft. In total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars of military equipment from Russia," Kirby said.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez


Russia suffered 100K casualties since December: White House

The U.S. estimates that Russia has suffered over 100,000 casualties, including over 20,000 killed in action, since it stepped up its winter offensive in December, a White House National Security Council told ABC News.

Half of the 20,000 killed in action were members of the Russian-backed private military Wagner Group, according to White House spokesman John Kirby. The majority of Wagner fighters killed were allegedly ex-convicts, according to Kirby.

Kirby said that the data came from "some downgraded intelligence" that the U.S. has been able to collect. He was unable to provide data on deaths of Ukrainian fighters.

Kirby had earlier told reporters that the Russian casualties took place from battles in Bakhmut since December, however, the National Security Council member said the data encompasses all winter battles.

Many, but not all, of these Russians were injured or killed in the Bakhmut fighting, according to the official.

Kirby emphasized that the U.S. thinks Bakhmut holds "very little strategic value for Russia" and if captured by Russia, it "would absolutely not alter the course of the war in Russia’s favor."

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson