Zelenskiy reveals Ukraine’s combat losses in war against Russia
- 8 December, 13:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has revealed his country’s losses since the start of Russia’s full-fledged invasion in February 2022. Around 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed fighting Russia in almost three years of war, Zelenskiy said in a post on Telegram app on Sunday.
"Our people are defending their homes at the cost of their lives, and every life - whether of our soldiers or civilians - is precious to us. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has lost 43,000 warriors on the battlefield," the Ukrainian leader stated. In addition, there have been 370,000 cases of medical assistance for the wounded, with fifty percent of wounded soldiers returning to duty, Zelenskiy noted.
He went on praising the frontline medical care to Ukrainian soldiers. "One of the key differences between the Russian army and Ukraine's Defense Forces is the level of frontline medical care, which is significantly more advanced in our army. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helps develop medical services for our military, saves the wounded, and supports rehabilitation efforts," the president added.
Zelenskiy also highlighted the discrepancy in combat losses, nothing that "Russia has been losing soldiers at a ratio of 5 to 1 or even 6 to 1 compared to us since September".
Russia has not revealed its combat losses in its war in Ukraine so far. However, according to the General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces, as of December 8, Russia has lost 753,370 military personnel on the frontline. The Institute for the Study of War reported earlier that this autumn alone Moscow lost around 126,000 soldiers as Russia is pursuing tactical gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
