Russia invasion: 31,000 Ukrainian troops killed so far, says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said that 31,000 soldiers have been killed since the Russia’s invasion so far.

31,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putin and his deceitful circle have been lying about. 

But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us," Zelenskyy said at the Ukraine Year 2024 forum in Kyiv.

However the leader said he won’t disclose how many troops were wounded in the war.

He also said there is a clear plan for new Ukrainian offensive. Ukraine needs to better prepare its reserve forces, he added.

It is the first time that Kyiv has confirmed the number of its losses since February 24, 2022.

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov earlier on Sunday said his country is "losing territory" because 50 per cent of the weapons promised by the West fail to reach Kyiv on the required time.

The country faces a $37-billion budget gap in 2024 as it strongly depends on the West partners for aid. 

However, the nation expects to get $11.8 billion in economic support this year from the US, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.