Ukrainian officials were alarmed last Wednesday after estimated casualties due to fighting Russian forces were disclosed. The EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen gave the number in a now-defunct video, stating that 20,000 non-combatants and 100,000 AFU have died so far, noted Twitter.
Ukrainian Officials Remain Silent on Actual Casualties
Even after the expose by Von der Leyen, many Ukrainian officials kept mum on the statement of the Brussels official.
She added the conflict with Moscow had caused death, destruction, and suffering, even suggesting an illegal scheme to Moscow's state and private assets to pay for the Kiev, reported Anadolu.
Bohdan Senyk, head of the Press Service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated that the number could not be verified. Saying how many were killed by the rampage of Russian forces for official eyes only.
The video posted took another Kyiv representative for a spin. Dana Spinant, the deputy chief spokeswoman concerning the European Commission, gave kudos to those who corrected the information in the initial video.
EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen added that the estimate came from external sources and must point to the actual casualties that, including killed and hurt, were spun to represent the Russian force's campaign.
NATO Chief Says Russia Still Powerful
Even if Kyiv is gaining ground in a counter-offensive; its western backer should never claim that Ukraine can win; remarked NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday, citing ANews.
During his speech at the Berlin Security Conference, he mentioned how the Ukrainian people fought to the death in a heroic resistance against overwhelming odds. Also, with the support of NATO allies, Kyiv has gained ground despite massive losses of men and equipment.
The NATO official stressed that Russia is not to be trifled with or thought easily defeated. The Russian army, despite western claims, has gained the upper hand many times. Claimed that the power grid and the welfare of civilians have both been harmed by the Russians' rain of missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities.
This is a plot to make Kyiv and everyone else suffer greatly. As winter drags on, everyone will experience what winter is like.
He reaffirmed that NATO allied nations will still send arms to the Kievan government, adding more up-to-date advanced weapons and air defense systems. He called on Berlin's giving of arms to help Ukraine, even humanitarian and military aid.
Further saying that it makes a difference on the battlefield every day. Indicated that support for Kyiv should never wane despite challenges.
Buying new fighter jets, helicopters, ships, and submarines was part of Germany's conviction to substantially increase its military budget, which Stoltenberg lauded. He posited that the Bundeswehr, the German army, is crucial to NATO's defense, security, and deterrence approaches.
He described a need for powerful and fully prepared Bundeswehr-equipped high-end capabilities throughout all sectors and a need for a sturdy weapons industry that can produce on demand the prerequisites based on solid and productive demand signals.
The Ukrainian officials deny the number of 100,000 as actual casualties mentioned by EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen as caused by the conflict with Russian forces.