Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy said that the number was far lower than estimates given by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government.

“31,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putin and his deceitful circle have been lying about. But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us”, Zelenskyy said at the “Ukraine. Year 2024” forum in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian leader said that he wouldn’t disclose the number of troops that were wounded or missing. He also said that “tens of thousands of civilians” had been killed in occupied areas of Ukraine, but said that no exact figures would be available until the war was over.

  • prettybunnys@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    121·
    9 months ago

    I would bet the number is higher than said, but Zelensky likely picked the most credible low number analysis for this statement.

    Russia can and will say whatever the fuck they want.

    So sure, in between; id wait for outside analysis too though.

    • Mr_Blott@lemmy.worldEnglish
      313·
      9 months ago

      31k sounds awful low, considering the amount of Russian troops they claim to have taken out

      • ichbinjasokreativ@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22·
        9 months ago

        Difference between defensive positions and caring for your men’s lives vs being on the offensive and just throwing men into machine gun fire maybe.

        • nexusband@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          9 months ago

          And proper tanks, that may burn, but don’t catapult you in to space. Same goes for artillery and rockets that actually find their target.

          Makes it so much more important, Ukraine gets all the best we (= the west) can offer.

      • PugJesus@kbin.social
        7·
        9 months ago

        Russia’s conduct has been abhorrent. Storm-Z and the troops of the Donbass pseudo-states in particular.

        Also, one must consider that Ukrainian numbers of enemy personnel eliminated generally includes wounded and captured; whereas Zelenskyy’s estimate here does not include wounded, missing, or captured, just dead.

        It’s probably an accurate estimate with that in mind, possibly (though not necessarily) a little on the low side for PR purposes.