About 2,800 Russian soldiers have been killed in the first 36 hours of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense claimed Friday. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Friday that Russian troops also lost some 500 armored vehicles, 10 aircraft, and seven helicopters. If confirmed, it would mean that Russia has suffered more losses in fewer than 48 hours than the United States soldiers suffered during the 20-year-long invasion of Afghanistan. Russia has not released any casualty figures. The United Nations reported 25 civilians had been killed and 102 wounded, figures that were likely to be a “significant under-estimate.” None of the death or injury tolls could be independently verified. A senior Pentagon official who spoke on background with reporters Friday said the United States could not confirm the number of Russian soldiers killed. “We cannot quantify what casualties either side has endured, other than to say that we certainly have seen …