President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine revealed that approximately 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began two years ago. This is the first time that a concrete figure for Ukraine’s toll has been acknowledged during the war. Zelensky declined to disclose the number of wounded or missing soldiers, citing concerns that Russia could use this information to gauge Ukraine’s active forces. The accuracy of Zelensky’s tally has not been independently verified, but it sharply differs from U.S. officials’ estimates, who put the losses much higher. Zelensky’s decision to reveal Ukraine’s losses is aimed at countering Russian propaganda and other estimates that have placed Ukrainian casualties at a much higher level.
The acknowledgment of Ukraine’s losses comes at a time when the country’s armed forces are facing pressure from Russian troops along the 600-mile front line. Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, ordered troops to withdraw from Avdiivka to preserve their lives and health, emphasizing that the soldiers’ well-being is the army’s highest value. Ukraine’s military leaders have expressed the need for more troops to make up for battlefield losses and withstand another year of fierce fighting. A mobilization bill that could pave the way for a large-scale draft of up to 500,000 soldiers is currently being considered by Ukraine’s Parliament.
Despite the challenges, Ukraine’s government is trying to project optimism by unveiling plans for the future as the country enters its third year of full-scale war with Russia. For more information, you can visit the original article on www.nytimes.com.