By : Lloyd Mahachi
The war in Ukraine has taken a devastating toll on the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. This number is a significant increase from the last update Zelensky provided in February when he reported 31,000 deaths.
The war has also left many soldiers injured. Zelensky reported that 370,000 injuries have been reported, although this figure includes soldiers who have been hurt more than once, and some of the injuries are minor. The Ukrainian president also claimed that 198,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and a further 550,000 wounded.
The BBC has not been able to verify either side’s figures. Both Kyiv and Moscow have regularly published estimates of the other side’s losses, but they have been reluctant to detail their own. The new figure marks a significant increase in Ukrainian deaths since the start of the year.
Zelensky’s admission comes after incoming US President-elect Donald Trump wrote on social media that Ukraine had “ridiculously lost” 400,000 soldiers, while close to 600,000 Russians had been killed or wounded. Trump’s statement compelled Zelensky to make the admission. The Ukrainian president wants to make sure that the world knows the true cost of the war.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. Eight years later, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has occupied territory in the country’s south and east. The war has resulted in significant losses on both sides, with no end in sight.
Recent developments in the war have only added to the number of dead. Russian forces continue to make incremental advances along the eastern front line, capturing and retaking territory in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s western Kursk region. The Russian defense ministry claims that more than 38,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk alone.
The war has had a profound impact on the people of Ukraine. Many have lost loved ones, and others have been forced to flee their homes. The economy has also been severely impacted, with many businesses forced to close. The war has also had a significant impact on the global economy, with many countries imposing sanctions on Russia.
Zelensky has stressed that any peace deal must be backed by effective international guarantees for Ukraine’s security. He said he told French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump that Kyiv needs an “enduring peace” that Moscow would not “destroy in a few years”. The Ukrainian president is determined to ensure that his country is protected and that the war comes to an end as soon as possible.
The Kremlin has said it is open to negotiations, but the conditions for a cessation of hostilities have been set by Russian President Vladimir Putin. His demands include Ukraine giving up more of its territory and abandoning ambitions to join NATO, which Kyiv has rejected. The war in Ukraine is a complex and ongoing conflict, with no clear end in sight.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
