European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen triggered angry reactions from Ukraine after she released war casualty data in Ukraine. In a social media video, von der Leyen said that so far the number of war casualties in Ukraine amounted to 20,000 civilians and 100,000 soldiers, Ednews reports citing REMIX.
While the source of von der Leyen’s data was not revealed, last month Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said that more than 100,000 Russian servicemen have been killed or wounded since the start of the war in Ukraine, and Ukrainian casualties are likely similar.
“You’re looking at well over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded. Same thing probably on the Ukrainian side,” Milley said in early November.
The huge loss of life in the conflict has not significantly slowed the war efforts of either nation, with both sides putting up a defense in some areas and conducting offensives in others. U.S. intelligence officials report that Russia is likely to prepare an offensive in the spring, which is likely lead to another steep increase in casualties.