Vladimir Putin Claims Russian Military Success in Ukraine Amidst High Casualty Reports
In a recent address, Russian President Vladimir Putin reported that Russia has gained control over 189 Ukrainian localities in 2024 and claims an ongoing advance of 30 square kilometers per day. Defense Minister Andrei Belooussov provided casualty estimates, noting 560,000 Russian troops killed or wounded in the last year. Conversely, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports 43,000 Ukrainian soldier deaths and accuses Russia of significantly higher losses. Putin criticized NATO’s military buildup, warning of potential future conflicts.