Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed on Tuesday that he was «proud» of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for «protecting the homeland» against the Russian invasion, which was launched on February 24 on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
«Our Armed Forces protect our homeland and that gives them the greatest possible motivation. They fight for freedom, which always increases strength. They defend the truth and, therefore, the future of Ukraine,» he said in a message on his Telegram account.
«We are proud of you, we admire you and thank you, each and every one,» he has indicated on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He has also acknowledged that the country is going through «the most difficult time» and praised the Army for «standing in the way of the Russian aggressor».
Thus, he stressed that the actions of the Armed Forces «have broken the imperialist plans of the enemy at the cost of their own life and health». «You continue to win freedom for millions of Ukrainians and fight for the right of our state to exist,» he added.
«Today you are celebrating your professional holiday fighting fierce battles with Russian occupiers by land, air and sea. You are firmly holding positions and driving the enemy out of our land, liberating Ukrainian cities and villages,» he stressed.
Finally, Zelensky paid tribute to the «heroes» who «have given their lives for Ukraine» and expressed «conviction» that the Ukrainian Armed Forces «will continue to protect the country and be an example of sacrifice and heroism».
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have assured this Tuesday that they have killed more than 500 Russian soldiers in battles registered during the last day and have put the number of Russian soldiers killed since the beginning of the invasion at more than 92,000.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army has said that 510 Russian servicemen have been «liquidated» during the last day and has raised the total figure to «about 92,200», well above the figures acknowledged to date by Moscow.
He also said in a message on his Facebook account that so far 2,929 tanks, 1,915 artillery systems, 211 anti-aircraft defense systems and 395 self-propelled and armored multiple rocket launchers have been destroyed.
In this line, he stressed that 281 aircraft, 264 helicopters, 1,587 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 vessels, 4,505 vehicles and fuel tanks and 163 pieces of special equipment have also been destroyed. «Data is being updated. Beat the occupier. Let’s win together. Our strength is in the truth,» he concluded.
Mikhail Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, last week put the number of Ukrainian servicemen killed by the invasion at «between 10,000 and 13,000,» although the army has not provided specific data. «There are more casualties from the wounded,» Podoliak maintained.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said on Nov. 10 that Russia has suffered «well over 100,000» casualties, including military dead and wounded, as part of the invasion of Ukraine, before adding that the numbers among the Ukrainian ranks «are probably similar.» «We are talking about well over 100,000 Russian servicemen killed or wounded. The same probably on the Ukrainian side,» he said.
However, Zelenski highlighted earlier in the day in an interview with U.S. television network CNN that Moscow has lost «ten times» more military personnel than Kiev since the start of the invasion. In September, Russia acknowledged some 6,000 military dead and put the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war at 61,200.
