Ukraine: Russian Military Admits Nearly 500 Deaths, But Actual Number Is Likely 'Considerably Higher', MoD Claims

The UK Ministry of Defence has claimed the number of Russian soldiers who have been killed during the invasion of Ukraine is 'considerably higher' than the country has claimed.

Russia's defence ministry released its first figures on fatalities yesterday, March 2, just under a week after President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border into Ukraine on February 24.

The ministry claimed 498 soldiers have been killed and 1,597 have been injured, with Russia's Major General Igor Konashenkov describing other figures as 'disinformation'.

As cited by CNN, he commented: 'I want to emphasise once again that neither conscripts nor cadets of educational institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense are participating in a special operation. The information spread by many Western and individual Russian media about the supposedly 'innumerable' losses of the Russian force is deliberate disinformation.'

However, the UK's Ministry of Defence disputed Russia's figures in its latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation released today, March 3, in which it claimed Moscow was 'forced' to release its figures yesterday.

It said: 'The Russian defence ministry has been forced to admit that 498 Russian soldiers have already been killed and 1,597 wounded in Putin's war. The actual number of those killed and wounded will almost certainly be considerably higher and will continue to rise.'

The MoD gave a nod to the determined nature of Ukrainians fighting for their country as it noted the 'large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30km from the centre of the city having been delayed by Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion', and that it has 'made little discernible progress in over three days'.

It continued: 'Despite heavy Russian shelling, the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol remain in Ukrainian hands. Some Russian forces have entered the city of Kherson but the military situation remains unclear.'

The MoD's beliefs about the number of Russian fatalities is in keeping with claims made by Ukraine's government, which has alleged the number of Russian troops killed since the start of the invasion is 5,840.

The UK government has assured it is 'providing a range of economic, humanitarian and defensive military assistance to Ukraine, and is imposing additional sanctions on Russia and Belarus', with support including the provision of 'additional humanitarian aid for vital medical supplies' and 'defensive military aid to Ukraine', as well as changes to the immigration system and coordination with partners on sanctions aimed at 'starving the Russian government of funds to further its unprovoked war against Ukraine'.

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