Russia, Ukraine: Zelensky’s confidant says 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died.

A senior official in the Ukrainian government said Ever since Russia sent troops to invade Ukraine As many as 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said a Ukrainian soldier died during the 10,000-13,000 men

It is not often that the Ukrainian government releases death toll figures. and information Mr. Podolyak This has not yet been confirmed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Podolyak also revealed that between 100 and 200 Ukrainian soldiers were killed every day in June.

In November, senior US general Mark Milley said that more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 100,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded. since the start of the war at the end of February last year

On Wednesday (Nov. 30), the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said in a video that more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died, but later a spokesperson for the European Commission came out to explain that The above figure is a mistake. Because what Ms von der Leyen was referring to was the combined number of deaths and injuries.

Mr. Podolyak’s information department Revealed to Ukraine’s Channel 24 TV channel, he said: “The Ukrainian government is speaking openly about the number of deaths.”

“Our military staff has an estimate. Including official information from President Zelensky. who assessed that Ukrainian soldier killed in the range of 10,000-13,000 men.”

He said the number of civilians killed could be “very high”.

BBC News said 3,600 civilians had died in mid-June, but the death toll could be much higher.

Podolyak added that up to 100,000 Russian soldiers had died. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, more Russian soldiers have been injured during the 100,000-150,000 of them are missing soldiers. Or unable to come back to join the war again.

BBC Russia reports that at least 9,311 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the attack on Ukraine. But the actual death toll could be as high as 18,600.

In early November 2022, an investigative report by the BBC found that more than 1,500 graves had been dug up in a large cemetery. near Mariupol in the south of Ukraine The BBC’s Panorama team found this by studying new satellite images.

This large burial ground was found to the west and north of the city of Mariupol. This is the burial place of all Ukrainian government officials. Those who saw the burial site said there were thousands of bodies inside.

Mariupol is a port city near the Russian border. And it is one of Russia’s important strategic goals. And since the war began, the Russians attacked the city relentlessly on land and air. Until finally Russia captured this city. while thousands of civilians lost their lives And most of the city was in a state of complete destruction.

fake news detection center has analyzed satellite images of the city of Starikrim for BBC Panorama and concluded that 1,500 new graves have been dug since the center has studied the details of this issue since June, which is now the center It is estimated that more than 4,600 graves have been dug since the war began. But it is not possible to determine how many bodies are actually buried there, as each grave may have many bodies.

Ukrainian officials believe that at least 25,000 civilians were killed in the fighting in Mariupol, and between 5,000 and 7,000 died under the rubble of their homes.

Eyewitnesses in Mariupol told the BBC that a few months ago It was seen by Russian officers moving bodies under the rubble of several buildings in Mariupol. to bury in the excavated burial place