Ukraine Russia war – live: Putin’s troops face manpower crunch as UN team to inspect Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

British national Craig Mackintosh has been killed while volunteering as a medic in Ukraine, his family confirmed requesting to bring his remains back home.

In a GoFundMe page, Mackintosh’s sister Lorna revealed that he had been killed in Ukraine on 24 August.

She said that her brother, from Thetford, Norfolk, had lost his life “in the line of duty”.

“Please help us bring this war hero home,” Ms Mackintosh wrote.

“Our brother bravely volunteered to go to [Ukraine] as a medic to help save lives in this war torn country.

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More than 200 Russian soldiers have been killed and a dozen tanks and artillery have also been destroyed by Ukraine as it amped up its counterattack on Russian fighters in the southern part of the besieged country, parts of which Russia had captured in the last six months.

A total of 201 Russian troops were killed, 12 T-72 tanks, 18 armoured vehicles, over a dozen different artillery units, and 6 ammo depots were destroyed by Ukraine, the country’s operational command “south” said in a war update this morning.

The Russian military is now facing a severe manpower shortage in its war against Ukraine and is now looking to recruit contract service members, a US official citing intelligence said on Wednesday.

Moscow could also pull in convicted criminals to fight the war in Kyiv as it runs out of military members, the official said.

“The Russian military is suffering from severe manpower shortages in Ukraine,” the official said.

He added: “Separately, we have credible reporting that Russia’s defence ministry is also likely to begin recruiting convicted criminals in Ukraine in exchange for pardons and financial compensation.”

It is believed that the Russian defence ministry is seeking to recruit contract service members to make up for these personnel shortages, “including by compelling wounded soldiers to re-enter combat, acquiring personnel from private security companies, and paying bonuses to conscripts,” the official said.

The UN officials presently in Ukraine are expected to visit the Russian-held nuclear power plant on a mission to inspect the site today.

Dr Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that even though he and his team have been given only one day to inspect the site by Russian officials controlling the nuclear power plant, the watchdog was preparing for longer.

“If we are able to establish a permanent presence, or a continued presence, then it’s going to be prolonged. But this first segment is going to take a few days,” Mr Grossi said in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

“It’s a mission that seeks to prevent a nuclear accident,” he added.

The continuous shelling from Ukraine and Russia on Europe’s largest power plant has sparked fears of a disaster.

Officials reported fighting near the power station and further afield on Wednesday, with both Ukraine and Russia claiming battlefield successes.