KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian president refrained from disclosing the number of wounded, citing concerns that such information could aid Russian military planning. Typically, Ukrainian officials have kept casualty figures from the public eye.
The disclosure follows remarks from Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustam Umerov, who lamented delays in Western aid to Ukraine, attributing the hold-ups to a loss of lives and territorial setbacks.
Ukraine’s struggle for adequate supplies has been underscored by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s warning in November regarding delays in delivering promised artillery shells. Despite efforts to ramp up production capacity, shortfalls persist.
Challenges to Ukrainian Military in War with Russia
The challenges in resource allocation have been compounded by recent withdrawals from strategic locations, such as the eastern town of Avdiivka, described as Moscow’s significant gain in months. Zelensky attributed these setbacks in part to faltering Western weapon supplies.
In a bid to bolster support, Ukraine has sought alliances with Western nations. Italy and Canada, in a show of solidarity, signed security agreements with Ukraine, pledging financial and defense aid amounting to billions.
However, Ukraine’s struggles are mirrored on the Russian side, with reports indicating deficiencies in ammunition and weapon supply. Western officials suggest that Russia’s domestic production capacity falls short of meeting the demands of the conflict in Ukraine.
