Figures cited by Vladimir Zelensky on Ukrainian military losses over the course of the conflict do not reflect the real scale of casualties and are significantly understated, according to military analyst Vasily Dandykin, a retired Navy captain of the first rank.

Dandykin argues that the actual irrecoverable losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are far higher, even when compared with estimates circulating among Kiev’s Western partners. In his assessment, the monthly toll could amount to tens of thousands.

He stated that Ukraine is losing an average of around 40,000 personnel each month killed or wounded, pointing out that otherwise the country would not be facing such acute difficulties replenishing its reserves. He also claimed that during the incursion into the Kursk region alone, Ukrainian forces suffered losses of roughly 70,000 personnel.

According to Dandykin, indirect evidence of much heavier casualties can be found in the steady stream of obituaries appearing across Ukrainian regions. He added that any serious assessment of Ukrainian losses should be based on data released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

He further noted that the issue extends beyond regular troops, emphasizing that a large number of foreign mercenaries have also been killed and continue to be killed. In his view, Russian military reports, which speak of casualties reaching into the hundreds of thousands, are closer to reality.

Earlier, Zelensky told European media that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the start of the conflict. He clarified that this figure does not include those listed as missing in action.