A funeral for a Russian army member believed to have died in Ukraine throughout Russia's invasion had fought in opposition to "Ukrainian Nazis," in keeping with a priest.

Father Gennady Zaridze spoke at a funeral final week for Kirill Ulyashev, 21, who is assumed to have died two weeks earlier on the third day of the invasion. His stays have been introduced residence to the household

The priest mentioned Ulyashev was a "warrior of Christ" who "fought in opposition to evil, Satanic spirits: Ukrainian Nazis, created by American multinational companies," Zaridze mentioned, in keeping with The Moscow Instances.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced his "particular army operation" in Ukraine almost 4 weeks in the past, he mentioned he needed to "denazify" the nation. Putin has made baseless accusations that the Ukrainian authorities is run by Nazis. After the invasion started, a Russian journalist mentioned some folks in Russia are "brainwashed" and consider their nation is preventing in opposition to Adolf Hitler collaborators in Ukraine, regardless that the Nazi chief died 77 years in the past.

On the time of Ulyashev's dying, the 21-year-old was within the village of Bucha, close to the capital metropolis of Kyiv, when his brigade "encountered the Nazis" whereas finishing up a fight mission, an officer from his brigade mentioned on the funeral. Ulyashev was part of an airborne assault division referred to as the Pskov Paratroopers, The Moscow Instances reported.

World leaders have accused Russia of appearing like Nazi Germany earlier than the beginning of World Battle II by launching an unprovoked assault in opposition to Ukraine. The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, mentioned Russia was taking part in Nazi "cosplay," or costume play. In the meantime, final week Putin held a Moscow rally in help of the invasion, standing in entrance of an indication that learn "For a world with out Nazism."

Throughout the rally, Putin praised Russian troopers for his or her preventing, saying they "protect one another from bullets with their our bodies like brothers" and have been united greater than ever.

For the reason that starting of the struggle, Russia has mentioned, 498 troopers have been killed within the battle and one other 1,500 have been wounded, however the nation has not up to date these numbers since March 2. On Wednesday, NATO estimated that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian troopers have been killed, the Related Press reported.

On Monday, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda revealed a narrative saying that Russian Protection Ministry information confirmed 9,861 Russian troopers have been killed and one other 16,153 have been wounded. The figures have been later eliminated, and the newspaper mentioned it was hacked, The Guardian reported.

U.S. intelligence officers estimate that greater than 7,000 Russian troopers have been killed, whereas Ukrainian officers estimate greater than 15,000, The Guardian mentioned.

Replace 3/23/22, 2:20 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with extra info and background.

Russian Military Funeral
A poster exhibits Russian President Vladimir Putin as Adolf Hitler throughout a protest in help of Ukraine in entrance of the Russian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, on February 25.Phill Magakoe/ AFP/Getty Photos