During a discussion in Kiev on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian assertions regarding the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as falsehoods. Zelensky revealed that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives over the past two years since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion, marking the first official release of military death toll figures by Ukraine.

Zelensky emphasized the historical significance of the sacrifices made by Ukrainians during the conflict. He stated that while Kiev acknowledges the casualties, it refrains from disclosing precise figures to prevent aiding Russian military strategies.

Contradicting claims made by Russian authorities, Zelensky clarified that the actual death toll among Ukrainian soldiers is significantly lower than the exaggerated numbers propagated by President Putin and his associates, which purportedly range from 300,000 to 150,000.

Highlighting the devastating impact of the war, Zelensky also acknowledged the loss of tens of thousands of civilians in areas under Russian control within Ukraine. However, he noted that the exact number of civilian casualties remains unknown to the Ukrainian authorities, encompassing deaths, killings, torture, and deportations.

This disclosure of military death tolls by Ukraine represents a rare instance of transparency in the conflict. The actual casualty count is believed to be much higher, with previous estimates by US officials in August last year suggesting up to 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 120,000 wounded.

In addition, President Zelensky stated that approximately 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict, with several thousand more sustaining injuries. This revelation underscores the significant toll exacted by the ongoing hostilities on both Ukrainian and Russian military personnel.