More Russian Soldiers Die From Strange 'Non-Combat' Reasons: Poisoning And Radiation

A growing number of Russian soldiers have died from reasons outside combat as the country's invasion of Ukraine stretches to its sixth week.

Residents of a district in Ukraine fed Russian soldiers poisoned pies resulting in two servicemen from the 3rd Motor Rifle Division dying. Another 28 were taken to intensive care after they were "treated" with the laced pastries by residents of Izium in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) said Sunday.

"Ukrainians resist the occupiers by all available means," the agency said in a statement. The current state of the poisoned soldiers is not clear, according to the GUR.

Meanwhile, 500 more servicemen from the 3rd Motor Rifle Division were reportedly hospitalized "due to severe alcohol poisoning of unknown origin."

"The Russian command attributes these cases to so-called 'non-combat losses,'" the GUR said.

The report comes just days after Russia pulled out its forces from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and handed control of the site back to Ukraine.

The power plant was seized by Russian forces at the start of the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Russian soldiers suffered "acute radiation sickness" from the occupation and were taken to a special radiation center in Gomel, Belarus, to help treat the poisoning. At least one Russian soldier has died from radiation poisoning after his unit camped in a toxic area in Chernobyl known as the Red Forest, a report by The Telegraph said.

The forest was named after its color, which is the result of the woods soaking up the radiation at Chernobyl, according to the outlet.

Around 18,300 Russian personnel have died between the start of the war and Monday, the MoD said in its most recent casualties report. Losses also included 647 tanks, 1,844 armored fighting vehicles, 147 aircraft and 134 helicopters, among other pieces of military equipment.

Russia has retreated from parts of Ukraine following its promise to scale back military operations.

The move was intended "to increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations" between the two countries, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said.

However, American officials warned that the Russians might be shifting their strategy to focus on trying to take control of eastern regions in Ukraine by the time Russia celebrates its biggest holiday, Victory Day, on May 9.