What is known and unknown about the number of Ukrainian troops killed?
Zelensky Shares Number of Ukrainian Soldier Deaths
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the war with Russia. This is the first time in over a year that the government has shared this number.
"Every loss is very sad for us. 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in this war," Zelensky said on February 25 at a forum in Kyiv. "It hurts us a lot."
This number is lower than some estimates from other sources that did not have official information.
Emily Harding, a researcher in Washington, D.C., said Zelensky's announcement shows he wants to be honest with the people of Ukraine and those who might give support.
“Sharing information about soldier deaths has good and bad sides,” Harding explained. “Zelensky is thinking about what help is needed right now.”
Keeping Information Secret
Until now, Ukraine kept the number of soldier deaths secret. Harding mentioned that keeping this information private helps stop the enemy from feeling stronger and keeps the spirits of soldiers and citizens high.
Since Zelensky’s announcement, the government has been careful not to share more details on how they counted the deaths.
Zelensky did not explain how they define "soldiers killed," like whether it includes those who died later from their injuries. This could mean the real number is higher.
When asked for more information, Zelensky’s spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov, told people to contact the General Staff. They refused to give more details, saying they need to protect important military information.
Military sources told the Kyiv Independent that the 31,000 number is only for soldiers killed since Russia's big invasion in 2022. It does not include soldiers killed from 2014 to 2022. The United Nations says about 4,400 Ukrainian soldiers died during that time.
At the event on February 25, Zelensky said, “I will not say how many are hurt because Russia will find out how many soldiers are still on the battlefield.”
Zelensky also talked about missing soldiers. Roman Kostenko, who leads Ukraine’s Defense Committee, said on February 26 that about 7,000 to 8,000 Ukrainian troops are missing.
He said this information came from the General Staff.
In December, Ukrainian officials said that Russia is holding at least 3,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war, but the actual number might be higher.
Ukraine’s missing persons commissioner said that about two-thirds of the missing soldiers are probably captured.
A Change in Communication
Zelensky's announcement was partly a response to rumors that Ukraine has more troop losses than reported.
His announcement comes at a very important time in the war. Ukraine is facing big shortages of ammunition, and military aid from the U.S. is currently on hold because of disagreements among Republicans. These shortages forced Ukraine to pull back from the important city of Avdiivka on February 17, along with several nearby villages. This gave Russia its first major gains since May of last year.
“Recently, some people in the more extreme part of the American political scene have not supported us. They are asking, how many more deaths do you want? (They said) Ukraine has lost 300,000 soldiers,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that Russian sources claim over 100,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, but he called this “completely crazy.”
His announcement is important for both international supporters and the people of Ukraine.
This year, Ukraine plans to start a new campaign to recruit more soldiers, which has caused some tension among Ukrainians. In February, Zelensky also made General Oleksandr Syrskyi the new commander-in-chief. He replaced General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who had led Ukraine’s Armed Forces since 2021.
