Russia-Ukraine War
Some 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began, Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a rare admission of the extent of the nation's casualties. . .
- The last time Zelensky gave an update on Ukraine's casualties was in February, when he put deaths at 31,000.
The Ukrainian president is thought to have been compelled to make the admission 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 did not state where these figures were from.
Ukrainian war dead reaches 43,000, Zelenskiyy says in rare update
Alex Binley
BBC News
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent
The new figure marks a significant increase in Ukrainian deaths since the start of the year.
The last time Zelensky gave an update on Ukraine's casualties was in February, when he put deaths at 31,000.
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 about 2,350 sq km of territory (907 sq miles) in eastern Ukraine and in Russia's western Kursk region since the start of the year.
Ukrainian forces maintain control over a small amount of Russian territory which was captured during a surprise offensive into Russia in August.
The Russian defence ministry says more than 38,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk alone - a number that cannot be verified.
Ukrainian forces maintain control over a small amount of Russian territory which was captured during a surprise offensive into Russia in August.
The Russian defence ministry says more than 38,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk alone - a number that cannot be verified.
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Eight years later, it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has occupied territory in the country's south and east.
Zelensky mentioned Ukraine's war dead in a broader post about the prospects for an eventual end to the war.
It follows talks in Paris on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump, who has sought to capitalise on views held by around a quarter of Americans that the US is providing too much support to Ukraine.
Zelensky mentioned Ukraine's war dead in a broader post about the prospects for an eventual end to the war.
It follows talks in Paris on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump, who has sought to capitalise on views held by around a quarter of Americans that the US is providing too much support to Ukraine.
During the campaign, Trump repeatedly said he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine "in a day" - but has yet to specify how he intends to do so.
- In his post, Zelensky stressed that any peace deal had to be backed by effective international guarantees for his country's security.
- He said he told Macron and Trump that Kyiv needs an "enduring peace" which Moscow would not "destroy in a few years".
His demands included Ukraine giving up more of its territory and abandoning ambitions to join Nato, which Kyiv has rejected.
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