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Ukraine admits nearly 100 soldiers die every day

President Zelensky revealed the casualties of Ukrainian forces in the Donbass, with 60-100 soldiers killed every day, as Russia increased the momentum of the offensive.

“The situation in the east Ukraine very difficult. We lose 60-100 soldiers and about 500 are wounded in combat every day,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Newsmax that was broadcast on May 31.

This is the rare time that the leader of Ukraine has announced the number of casualties of this country’s forces in the fighting with Russia. The information was given by President Zelensky in the context of intense fighting taking place in the Donbass, when Russian forces intensified their attacks on towns and cities along the front lines.

“We are holding the defensive lines. The place where the situation is most severe is in eastern Ukraine and in the south of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions,” Zelensky added.

Ukrainian forces are trying to hold out in the city of Severodonetsk, Lugansk province, before Russian attacks. The governor of Lugansk province said that Russian forces had taken control of most of the city of Severodonetsk after several days of siege.

The situation elsewhere in the Donbass has not changed much, Russian forces are focusing on the city of Sloviansk and launching attacks along the main front.





Ukrainian tanks move on the street of Severodonetsk, Lugansk province on May 18.  Photo: AFP.

Ukrainian tanks move on the street of Severodonetsk, Lugansk province on May 18. Image: AFP.

Experts say that Russia wants to quickly take full control of the Donbass region before Western heavy weapons are delivered to Ukrainian forces on the front lines.

A US official on May 31 announced that the country will deliver to Ukraine M142 HIMARS medium-range rocket artillery systems, with a range of 70-80 km when using normal ammunition and up to 300 km when using missiles. The official confirmed that the M142 HIMARS complexes will not be used to attack Russian territory.

In an interview with Newsmax, President Zelensky dismissed concerns that the Ukrainian military will use long-range rocket artillery systems to attack Russian territory.

“We don’t care about Russia, we don’t fight on their territory,” he said. “War is going on on our territory. We want to relieve the siege of cities, so we need ammunition that can hit targets 100 kilometers away.”

However, adviser to the President of Ukraine Mykhaylo Podolyak said on April 28 that the country “will defend itself by all means, including carrying out attacks on Russian military facilities and bases”.

Russian officials have repeatedly accused Ukraine of ambushing residential areas near the border, killing or injuring many civilians. Ukraine denies this allegation.





The main advance of Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region after more than 90 days of fighting.  Graphics: BBC.

The main advance of Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region after more than 90 days of fighting. Graphics: BBC.

Nguyen Tien (Follow CNN)

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