Russian invasion of Ukraine.Photo: SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty
Days into its widely denouncedinvasion of Ukraineand Russia has finally confirmed that it has seen losses in its ongoing attack, with the country’s Defense Ministry announcing Wednesday that 498 Russian troops had died and 1,597 more had been injured since the country began what it has called a “special military operation.”
More than 500 Ukrainian soldiers, he contended, had been captured.
It marks the first time the Kremlin has publicly shared a death toll — though it’s difficult to ascertain the veracity of their numbers.
Konashenkov, the spokesman, insisted in his statement that reports of even greater losses among Russian troops were “disinformation” — likely a response to Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that some 6,000 Russian soldiershave been killedin just six days.
The number of civilians killed in the ongoing attacks is also still difficult to accurately quantify, but initial data shows a stark toll.
On Wednesday, the United Nations' High Commission for Human Rights published itscivilian casualty reportshowing 227 people were killed, including children, and 525 were injured. But, officials warned, the “real figures are considerably higher.”
Russian invasion of Ukraine.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukraine PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
