According to Zelensky, the number refers to officially confirmed deaths of both professional soldiers and conscripts. He stressed, however, that Ukraine’s total losses are higher, noting that a large number of people remain officially listed as missing, including both military personnel and civilians.
The last official update on Ukrainian military casualties had been given in December 2024, when Zelensky reported 43,000 deaths. As of mid-2025, Ukraine’s interior ministry had registered more than 70,000 missing persons, though authorities do not disclose how many are soldiers. Officials acknowledge that the real number of fatalities may be significantly higher, as casualty data is highly sensitive and closely linked to public morale.
Zelensky’s remarks come as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue. US President Donald Trump has been leading a push for a negotiated settlement, with American envoys holding talks this week with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi. US special envoy Steve Witkoff described the discussions as “detailed and productive”, while admitting that major issues — particularly territorial disputes — remain unresolved.
Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede the remainder of the eastern Donbas region not currently under Moscow’s control. Meanwhile, Witkoff announced that a new prisoner exchange agreement had been reached, involving 314 detainees, the first such swap in five months.
