**Ukraine Says 43,000 Soldiers Killed in Russia’s Invasion**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia’s invasion began. In a social media post, he also claimed that 198,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and a further 550,000 wounded.
**Casualty Figures Unclear**
The BBC cannot verify these claims. Both Ukraine and Russia are thought to underplay the true costs of the conflict. A recent report from Reuters quoted a US intelligence source as saying that Russia has lost 315,000 troops – almost 90% of those first deployed.
**Estimates Vary**
Other estimates put Ukraine’s war dead at around 70,000 with up to 120,000 wounded. Zelensky’s latest figures are the highest yet given by the Ukrainian president. He was forced to make this admission after US President-elect Donald Trump posted that 600,000 Russians and 400,000 Ukrainians had been killed or wounded.
**Russia’s Tactics Blamed**
The consensus is that Russian casualty figures are far higher than Ukraine’s due to their “meat grinder” tactics. 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 territory.
**UK Estimates Higher**
The UK’s defence ministry says Russia suffered 45,680 casualties in November – more than any month since its full-scale invasion began. According to the latest estimates, Russia is losing an average of 1,523 men killed or wounded a day.
**No Official Ukrainian Figures Available**
Ukraine does not allow its own military casualties to be published, so there are no official estimates covering the last few months. The Russian defence ministry claims more than 38,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk alone – a number that cannot be verified.
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