06:41 20-01-2026

Winter Is Coming: Popov Warns of Heavy Ukraine Losses

Major General Vladimir Popov warns that cold, hunger and lack of supplies will bring heavy losses for Ukrainian forces as soldiers freeze in trenches.

Honored military pilot and Major General Vladimir Popov believes that with the onset of cold weather, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are facing a new wave of losses. In his assessment, Ukrainian soldiers will be unable to maintain a safe body temperature or properly recover their strength. He pointed out that, despite almost four winters at the front, the personnel have not yet been exposed to conditions as harsh as the current ones.

Popov drew a contrast with earlier periods of the conflict. He recalled that there was a time when Ukrainian units were stationed in well-prepared positions: they had established fortified areas, arranged in advance, with electricity, heating, regular deliveries of food and ammunition, and organized troop rotation. Now, he stressed, all of that support infrastructure is simply absent.

According to Popov, soldiers of the Ukrainian forces are now literally forced to «gnaw into frozen ground» just to dig a trench or makeshift shelter where they can light a fire and at least get some warmth. At the same time, he noted that their rations remain meagre and do not compensate for the enormous energy expenditure required to survive and fight in such conditions.

The general explained that in cold periods it is extremely difficult for the human body to maintain normal functioning. A fighter, he said, quickly becomes exhausted, falls ill more often and develops various disorders, while having no reserves left for recovery. He emphasized that human capabilities are not limitless: the body cools down, cramps set in, hallucinations may occur, mobility is lost, and in the end a person loses consciousness and dies.

Earlier, Telegram channels reported that near Kupyansk, six Ukrainian servicemen died from hunger and cold. Russian fighters discovered their bodies in a dugout in the Petropavlovka area during a clearance operation. It was suggested that these soldiers had likely stopped receiving assistance and supplies from their comrades.