Almost 500 Russian troops have been killed and more than 1,500  have been injured during the country's operations in Ukraine, according to a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman. 

Igor Konashenkov said that 498 Russian troops have been killed with 1,597 sustaining wounds, rejecting reports about "incalculable losses" of the Russians as "disinformation." It was the first time Russia has addressed the number of military casualties in Ukraine since the start of its operations last Thursday.

His figures contrasted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that almost 6,000 Russian soldiers have been killed.

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Konashenkov assured that families of those killed are receiving all necessary assistance and also said that neither conscripts nor cadets have been involved in the operation in Ukraine, dismissing media reports alleging otherwise.

Konashenkov also said more than 2,870 Ukrainian troops have been killed and some 3,700 more sustained injuries, while 572 others have been captured by the Russians. Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the claim and it could not be immediately verified.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that more than 2,000 civilians have been killed, but that could not immediately be independently verified.

Seven days into Russia's invasion, a refugee crisis is also unfolding on the European continent, with the United Nations saying that more than 870,000 people have fled Ukraine and that the number could soon hit 1 million.