55,000 Ukrainians killed in war against Russia, Zelensky says

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky told French broadcaster France 2 last night that the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the country’s war with Russia is estimated at 55,000, with many more missing.

Independent international estimates – such as from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington – talk about 100,000 to 140,000 killed.

Zelenskyy also stressed what is at stake for Ukraine, saying that “if we lose this war, we simply lose our country’s independence,” and warning that Russia’s Putin would not stop at Ukraine and could pose direct threat to more European countries.

“Ukraine’s neighbours understand that they will be the first victims” of the Kremlin’s expansionist policy, he said.