Russian Defense Minister Claims Ukraine Lost 111 Thousand Troops During 2024

JAKARTA - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Friday, claimed Ukrainian authorities had lost more than 111,000 troops and 21,000 units of military weapons and equipment throughout 2024.

"This year as a whole, [the loss experienced by Kiev] has reached 111,000 soldiers, 21,000 units of weapons and military equipment," Shoigu said as quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik, Friday, May 3.

In addition, Kiev also loses 1,000 troops every day due to demands by the United States and their allies to stop attacks by Russian armed forces in any way, Shoigu said.

The US and its allies demanded that Ukraine take precautions so that its defenses do not collapse and fend off Russian troops' attacks in any way. As a result, the missing army every day in April reached 1,000 soldiers, "he said.

Shoigu said the Russian military had controlled 547 square kilometers of territory in the country's new region since the start of the year.

Russian armed forces fully control the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka and Berdychidi in the Donetsk People's Republic over the past two weeks, he said.