Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, a significant admission of the scale of casualties in the ongoing conflict. This update, shared via social media, also revealed that 370,000 soldiers have been injured, although this includes multiple injuries per individual and some minor wounds.
Zelensky’s figures also highlight the toll on Russian forces, with the Ukrainian president claiming that 198,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and 550,000 wounded. These figures, like those from the Ukrainian side, have not been independently verified. Both Kyiv and Moscow have regularly updated casualty numbers for the opposing side but have been more reserved about disclosing their own losses.
The new death toll marks a steep rise in Ukrainian casualties since the beginning of 2024. The last update from Zelensky in February stated that 31,000 Ukrainians had died in the war, indicating the growing intensity and cost of the conflict. This rare public acknowledgment of Ukraine’s own losses followed a social media post from incoming US President-elect Donald Trump, who claimed that Ukraine had “ridiculously lost” 400,000 soldiers, while close to 600,000 Russians had been killed or wounded. Trump did not provide a source for these figures but emphasized that too many lives had been “needlessly wasted.”
Zelensky’s estimates for Russian casualties align with those of Western officials, who suggest that Russia has experienced around 800,000 casualties, including both fatalities and injuries. The UK Ministry of Defence reports that Russia suffered 45,680 casualties in November 2024 alone, the highest monthly total since the war began. This figure highlights the continuing intensity of the fighting, with an average of 1,523 Russian soldiers being killed or wounded every day. On November 28, Russia lost over 2,000 soldiers in a single day for the first time in the war.
Moscow disputes the casualty figures presented by the West, claiming that Ukrainian losses far exceed Russia’s. Russian officials argue that the casualty figures reported by the UK and other Western sources are inflated. These contrasting claims reflect the ongoing information warfare between the two sides.
Recent military developments have further compounded the loss of life. Russian forces have made small but steady advances along the eastern front, capturing and retaking approximately 2,350 square kilometers of Ukrainian and Russian territory since the beginning of 2024. Ukrainian forces, however, maintain control of a small portion of Russian territory, which they captured during a surprise offensive in August. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has claimed that over 38,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the Kursk region alone, a claim that remains unverified.
Russia’s occupation of Crimea, annexed in 2014, and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 have led to extensive loss of life and territorial shifts, particularly in Ukraine’s south and east. Zelensky’s update on the war dead was part of a broader discussion about the prospects for peace.
Zelensky recently held talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, who has been vocal about his stance on the war. Trump has frequently stated that he could bring about an end to the conflict “in a day,” but has yet to specify how he would do so. During their discussions, Zelensky emphasized that any peace agreement must include effective international guarantees for Ukraine’s security, and that Kyiv requires an “enduring peace” that Russia would not be able to undermine in the future.
In response to Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire, the Kremlin reiterated its willingness to negotiate, but reiterated the conditions set by President Vladimir Putin in June, which include Ukraine conceding more territory and abandoning its NATO aspirations—demands that Kyiv has firmly rejected.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to take a heavy toll on both sides, and the road to peace remains uncertain. Zelensky’s comments underscore the severity of the human cost of the war, while also emphasizing Ukraine’s resolve to secure its future independence and territorial integrity.
SOURCE :- BBC NEWS
