Ukraine possibly to be underreporting army deaths
(MENAFN) Ukraine’s official military casualty numbers in the ongoing conflict with Russia are likely significantly understated, according to a report by French newspaper Le Monde published Monday. Neither Ukraine nor Russia regularly releases detailed updates on military fatalities, with both sides often accusing each other of exaggerating losses.
In February, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told CBS News that 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died and 380,000 were wounded since the conflict escalated in 2022. However, Le Monde suggests the actual death toll is probably much higher. The newspaper pointed to Ukraine’s growing construction of military cemeteries, including a large national memorial near Kiev and an almost full graveyard in Lviv, as evidence of heavier casualties than official statistics reveal.
Earlier in 2024, Zelensky reported 31,000 military deaths, while a Washington Post source indicated the Ukrainian government might be downplaying losses to maintain Western military aid.
Last year, Ukraine reformed conscription laws to better enforce mandatory service, but resistance has grown, with some men attempting to evade the draft—sometimes at great personal risk. Videos online have shown conscription officers allegedly using harsh measures to meet recruitment targets. The Council of Europe recently voiced concerns over allegations of mistreatment and deaths during Ukraine’s military recruitment.
Meanwhile, Russia claims Ukrainian losses have risen sharply following Kiev’s failed 2023 counteroffensive, estimating over 1.08 million Ukrainian soldiers killed or wounded as of February.
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