Ukraine: 46,000 Russian Soldiers, 9,000 Ukrainians Killed In Last Six Months

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Ukraine announced Saturday that 46,550 Russian soldiers had died in the first six months of the war. Ukraine’s combat HQ reported on Facebook that 250 more Russian soldiers had been killed on Friday. Ukraines figures correspond with those of the British defense ministry which estimates Russian losses at 80,000 included killed, wounded and desertions. In comparison, Russia lost 15,000 soldiers during the decade-long war in Afghanistan.

The New York Times reported that 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during this period.

Ukraine reported that Russia had also lost 1,939 tanks, 1045 artillery pieces, 836 unmanned aerial drones and 3,165 vehicles since February. The UN announced that it had verified 5,587 civilian casualties in Ukraine but said that the number was probably much higher.

Russia announced that it would not cease its military campaign in Ukraine even if Ukraine reneged on joining NATO, according to former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev. Medvedev said in a French television interview that “reneging on participation in North Atlantic treaty is vital but will not be enough to attain peace.”

Medvedev said that Moscow would be willing to negotiate with Zelensky under certain conditions  “depending on how events develop.” In the past week Ukraine has counterattacked in the south, gaining back some key positions near Kharkov, as well as attacking Russian positions in Crimea.