Zelenskyy: Russian forces have suffered nearly 250,000 losses on the battlefield in Ukraine from January to August this year

On September 24, Zelenskyy delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The main points were as follows:

Putin’s reckless orders have been relentlessly pursued by Russian generals for nearly five years—aimed at capturing our eastern region, Donetsk Oblast.

Just in the first eight months of this year, Russian forces have suffered 248,964 combat losses on the Ukrainian front—dead and severely wounded combined. In eight months, over 248,000 personnel lost. The number exceeds the total population of 21 countries worldwide.

Recently, we returned two North Korean prisoners to the Republic of Korea. Capturing these soldiers was not easy. One of them attempted suicide upon realizing he would be taken captive. He expressed shock that fate had spared him from death.

This is how North Korea indoctrinates its people: stripping individuals of freedom and choice, instilling the belief that one must die regardless of circumstance. Do you truly wish to grant such a force more time to refine its military capabilities?

We have learned that Putin has recently reaffirmed to the U.S. representative his intention to seize our Donetsk Oblast, claiming he needs only a few more months… Over the past five years, this promise has likely been repeated for the seventeenth or eighteenth time. The rhetoric remains identical: “Just a few more months.” Yet each time, the deadline is postponed. This time will be no different.

In Russian history, we are witnessing for the first time the country’s once-proud oil industry facing existential threats.

But oil itself is not our target. Nor are gasoline, diesel, factories, or ports.

Our objective is to dismantle Russia’s capacity to finance this war, prolong it, and intensify its brutality and destructiveness.

Since the beginning of this year, Russia has launched over 2,100 missiles into Ukraine, including more than 950 ballistic missiles. In just eight months, Russian forces have deployed approximately 63,000 attack drones, among which over 7,700 were Shahed suicide drones—highly destructive and dangerous weapons.

If your country were subjected to such attacks, could it withstand them?

Ukraine has endured.

No Russian official could have imagined that the "Winter General"—a figure long considered a steadfast ally of Russia—might one day turn against it, supporting those resisting Russian aggression.

If Russia continues targeting our energy infrastructure and heating systems, we will bring about such a scenario this winter.

The Ukrainian people understand that this winter will be extremely difficult. But in response, we have no choice but to make Russia experience the full weight of winter.

For this reason, we call for measures to de-escalate the situation before the onset of winter.

Ending this war means finally halting the rapid advancement of lethal weaponry—a trend that has persisted throughout the conflict and now poses a global threat.

We must contain this trajectory before moving into the next phase.

Because by next year, it may no longer be humans alone who determine the course of battle—artificial intelligence may begin to decide outcomes on the battlefield.

We must achieve peace before reaching that threshold.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1877223298636811/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.