Kiev [Ukraine], December 9: The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper quoted Zelensky on December 8 as saying that since the war began, Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers killed in combat. In addition, there have been 370,000 cases of assistance to the wounded, including cases of treating those who were repeatedly wounded after returning to combat. The Ukrainian president stressed that 50% of the wounded have returned to combat, and praised the team of doctors in frontline areas who support soldiers.
President Zelensky said that Russia had 198,000 soldiers killed and more than 550,000 wounded. Earlier, 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.
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 lowering the conscription age to ensure troop numbers.
Russia - Ukraine attacked UAVs at night, Mr. Zelensky raised the request for peace negotiations
On December 8, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had shot down 46 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that attacked five Russian provinces in the early morning of the same day. On the Ukrainian side, the country's military said it had shot down 28 of 74 Russian UAVs on December 8, in addition to 46 other UAVs of Moscow that were likely disabled by electronic warfare systems, Reuters reported.
The Russian military also claimed control of the settlement of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Russia claimed that Ukraine lost about 190 soldiers, two 2S3 Akatsiya 155 mm self-propelled artillery systems and one Paladin self-propelled artillery system in 24 hours of fighting in Blahodatne. Ukraine and Russia did not comment on the information of their opponents.
Regarding the prospect 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.
"Zelensky and Ukraine want a deal. There must be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being wasted needlessly," 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 1 hour. The content was not disclosed, except for information from the French and Ukrainian delegations saying that the meeting was effective and good.
Mr. Zelensky emphasized the need for an effective ceasefire process in Ukraine. "First of all, we must 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 Trump's statement after meeting with the leaders of France and Ukraine in Paris. "Our position on Ukraine is well known. The conditions for an immediate ceasefire were set by President Vladimir Putin in June," Peskov said.
Ukraine considers creating UAV regiment
Ukrainian army Lieutenant Colonel Kyrylo Veres said the K-2 mechanized battalion is undergoing restructuring and expansion. 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 combat. With our experience as an infantry unit, we know how to protect our soldiers on the ground with UAVs as our main weapon. Now is the time to expand," said Veres, emphasizing that the UAV regiment will be responsible for operating unmanned vehicles to support infantry 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.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
