The sides talk about casualties during the war
Newspaper Ukrainska Pravda On December 8, Zelensky quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying that since the war broke out, Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers killed in combat. In addition, there were 370,000 cases of assistance to the wounded, which included treatment of those who were injured multiple times after returning to combat. The President of Ukraine emphasized that 50% of the wounded have returned to fight, and praised the team of doctors in front-line areas to support soldiers.
Ukrainian soldiers were treated in Donetsk in July
President Zelensky said that the Russian side had 198,000 soldiers killed and more than 550,000 injured. Previously, US President-elect Donald Trump posted on the social network Truth Social on December 8 that Russia had nearly 600,000 soldiers killed or wounded, while mentioning that Ukraine’s casualties were about 400,000 people.
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TASS news agency reported that the Kremlin rejected Mr. Trump’s claims about losses in the Ukraine conflict, saying that Kyiv’s casualties far exceeded Russia’s and that these losses led to Ukraine having to lower the military enlistment age to ensure military numbers.
Russia and Ukraine attacked UAVs at night, Mr. Zelensky raised the demand for peace negotiations
On December 8, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it shot down 46 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that attacked 5 Russian provinces at dawn on the same day. As for Ukraine, the country’s military said it shot down 28 out of 74 Russian UAVs on December 8, in addition, 46 other Moscow UAVs were likely disabled by electronic warfare systems, Reuters reported.
The Russian army also declared control of the Blahodatne settlement in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. Russia announced that Ukraine lost about 190 soldiers, 2 2S3 Akatsiya 155 mm self-propelled artillery systems and 1 Paladin self-propelled gun in 24 hours of fighting at Blahodatne. Ukraine and Russia do not comment on their opponents’ information.
Regarding the prospects of peace negotiations in Ukraine, US President-elect Donald Trump said on December 8 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to reach an agreement to end the conflict.
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“Mr. Zelensky and Ukraine want an agreement. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being wasted unnecessarily,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Mr. Trump arrived in Paris, France on December 7 to attend the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral after 5 years. In France, Mr. Trump had a three-way meeting with Mr. Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron for nearly an hour. The content was not disclosed, other than information from the French and Ukrainian delegations saying that the meeting took place effectively and well.
From left, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-elect Donald Trump meet in Paris on December 7
Mr. Zelensky emphasized the need for an effective ceasefire process in Ukraine. “We must first focus on ensuring effective peace. The Ukrainian people want peace more than anyone else. This cannot be done with just a piece of paper and a few signatures. A ceasefire without guarantees can be broken at any time,” he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had carefully studied Mr. Trump’s statement after meeting with the leaders of France and Ukraine in Paris. “Our position on Ukraine is known to everyone. The conditions for an immediate ceasefire were outlined by President Vladimir Putin in June,” Mr. Peskov said.
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Ukraine considers establishing a UAV regiment
Lieutenant Colonel Kyrylo Veres of the Ukrainian army said the K-2 mechanized battalion is in the process of reform and expansion. Mr. Veres said the unit is recruiting soldiers to form a regiment specializing in operating drones, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
“We have proven our strength and endurance in battles. With experience as an infantry unit, we know how to protect our soldiers on the ground with the main weapon, the UAV. This is the time to expand,” Mr. Veres said, emphasizing that the UAV regiment will be responsible for operating unmanned vehicles to support ground forces.
Accordingly, the planned Ukrainian UAV regiment will need members from many fields, from drivers, operators to engineers, and will use many different types of UAVs.
