Zelensky: Ukraine Expects 30,000 Russian Occupiers to Be ‘Eliminated’ in August

President Volodymyr Zelensky has forecasted that at least 30,000 Russian soldiers will be "eliminated" in August, as Ukraine intensifies its defense in the Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka regions. During his evening address on August 14, Zelensky vowed that "there will be no fewer than 30,000 eliminated occupiers" during the month.

This prediction comes after Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi provided a battlefield report outlining the necessary steps and resources to reinforce these strategic directions. Ukrainian forces are actively countering Russian attacks and efforts to breach their defenses. In recent weeks, Ukrainian troops have reclaimed 26 settlements in the Oleksandrivka direction.

Zelensky also revealed that recent decisions have led Ukraine towards a more technologically advanced defense system, heavily relying on drones and other unmanned systems. The 30,000 target underscores Ukraine's approach of leveraging technology to inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces while simultaneously hindering their progress.

Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka are crucial components of Ukraine's defensive line in Donetsk Oblast, making their reinforcement a top priority. By regaining control of these settlements, Ukraine is challenging Moscow's narrative that Ukrainian territory is lost forever. In a recent UN Security Council meeting, Ukraine's Deputy Permanent Representative Volodymyr Pavlichenko stated that a Russian soldier could expect to survive only 10 days to three weeks from joining a training center to being killed on the battlefield. He added that Russia lost over 30,000 troops in May and approximately 28,000 in June.