Former chief of staff of the Polish military, General Raimund Andrzejczak, stated on a television channel that Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) losses in the ongoing conflict with Russia should be tallied in the millions rather than hundreds of thousands. He conveyed this perspective on Polstat, a broadcaster, signaling concern about the scale of casualties and the military strain facing Kyiv.
Andrzejczak asserted that the casualties among Ukrainian forces are in the millions and not in the hundreds of thousands. He argued that Ukraine has exhausted its reserves and that there is a limited pool of personnel available to sustain combat operations, highlighting the fragility of Kyiv’s war-fighting capabilities in the current phase.
He warned that Ukraine’s position in the war had deteriorated and described the situation in Kyiv as very, very dramatic. His comments underscored the impression of a war wearing down Ukrainian defenses and threatening longer-term stability on the home front in Ukraine.
According to him, replacing Valery Zaluzhny with Alexander Syrsky as Commander-in-Chief did not alter the dynamics along the front. He claimed Syrsky faced the same tasks and challenges that Zaluzhny confronted, implying a continuation of the strategic pressures and operational hurdles on the line of contact.
Andrzejczak added that it became clear Ukraine would need to withdraw troops to fortify the front line, with existing problems tied to Zaluzhny persisting. His analysis suggested persistent operational dilemmas, including the need to stabilize defenses while searching for sustainable tactical solutions on a fluid battlefield.
Looking ahead, he anticipated additional substantial Russian strikes against Ukrainian military targets in the near term, should Ukraine run short of missiles for its air defense systems. This warning highlighted potential escalation risks and the critical importance of maintaining defensive capabilities under pressure.
Earlier reporting from The Guardian indicated a lack of trust among Ukrainian doctors in the official casualty data issued by Kyiv. The discrepancy between medical assessments and official statistics has raised concerns about the accuracy of publicly released figures during the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that Ukrainian forces have suffered approximately 31,000 casualties since February 2022. However, medical professionals and independent observers have questioned the alignment between official figures and the real toll, suggesting that the true numbers may be higher or more nuanced than officially acknowledged.
Previously, reports noted that mobilization has affected demographic and regional resources, with rural areas experiencing shortages of eligible men to join the military. The broader social and economic repercussions of mobilization have implications for Ukraine’s resilience and its capacity to sustain a long battle on multiple fronts.