Ukraine

Russia has failed and is failing 'dramatically', Chief of the Defence Staff says

Russia has failed and is failing "dramatically", according to Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

He told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "We're seeing a continued failure by Russia. We saw that at the outset. Russia wanted to take the cities, it failed. Russia wanted to subjugate Ukraine, it's failed, and it's failing dramatically.

"Russia wanted to weaken NATO and NATO's even stronger. Then if you come down to the tactical fight, we're seeing continued success by Ukraine."

Russia's defence ministry said it had finished pulling out its troops from the western bank of the river dividing Ukraine's southern Kherson region – including the only provincial capital Moscow had captured since invading its neighbour.

Ukrainian officials were wary of the Russian pullback, fearing their soldiers could get drawn into an ambush in Kherson city.

The Head of the UK's Armed Forces added: "When I was last on it was Kharkiv. And the ingenuity and determination of the Ukrainian people to win their country back again.

"And now you're seeing that in Kherson, and you will continue to see the strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people to defeat Russia."

Watch: Russia suffers 'biggest setback' of war in Ukraine.

"Our job is to support Ukraine, and to support them politically, diplomatically, militarily."

Admiral Radakin highlighted that a "continued investment" in defence is needed, adding the UK is living in both "serious" economic and security times.

He told the BBC's programme: "We need continued investment. And that's a continued investment over the long term.

"I welcome the conversations that we can have with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor and accompanying the Defence Secretary."