The Ukrainian military announced on Saturday that the number of Russian soldiers killed since the start of the military operation on February 24, 2022, has risen to 369,160 after 700 soldiers were killed on Friday.
According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia also lost 6,650 tanks, 11,269 armored vehicles, 8,728 artillery systems, 957 multiple rocket launcher systems, 646 air defense systems, 329 fighter jets, 324 helicopters, 23 warships, as well as 11,632 vehicles and fuel tanks, in addition to 1,345 special equipment, 6,848 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,806 cruise missiles shot down, and one submarine.
The Ukrainian military said that the figures are approximate and that the actual number of Russian casualties may be higher.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a visit to Estonia on Thursday, firmly ruled out a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict with Russia, expressing concern that it would allow Kremlin forces to rearm and regroup.
Zelenskyy emphasized that a pause on the Ukrainian battlefield would not halt the overall war and might disadvantage Kyiv’s forces in the long run.
Despite occasional proposals for limited cease-fires since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, none have been successfully implemented. Both sides are now actively working to replenish their weapons after 22 months of continuous fighting, facing the challenges of a protracted conflict.
The static nature of the roughly 1,500-kilometer front line during the winter has intensified the need for artillery shells, missiles, and drones capable of long-range strikes. Zelenskyy revealed concerns about Moscow obtaining artillery shells and missiles from North Korea and drones from Iran. Earlier reports from the White House on January 4 confirmed U.S. intelligence findings that Russia had acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and was seeking similar weapons from Iran.
President Zelenskyy’s visit to Tallinn, Estonia, is part of a two-day tour through Baltic countries, emphasizing their strong support for Ukraine amid the ongoing crisis. The refusal to entertain a cease-fire reflects Ukraine’s strategic considerations in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics and the need to maintain a resilient defense against Russian forces.
