Based on new assessments provided by unnamed officials from the United States, there are signs of an increase in the death toll in Ukraine. BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville has been stationed at the forefront in the eastern region, where the somber duty of tallying the deceased has transformed into a daily norm.
According to Margo, a 26-year-old individual, unidentified soldiers are heaped in a small brick mortuary not far from the Donetsk front line. Seated at her cluttered desk just outside the weighty entrance to the mortuary, she holds a pen in her hand. Her responsibility entails documenting the specific details of those who have perished.
While Ukraine has not officially disclosed the count of its war-related fatalities – with the Ukrainian armed forces maintaining that their casualty numbers are confidential – Margo is well aware of the substantial losses incurred.
The precise statistics remain undisclosed. However, as per recent statements attributed to US sources by the New York Times, the count has been placed at 70,000 deceased and potentially up to 120,000 wounded. This is a staggering number considering the armed forces are estimated to be only half a million strong. The United Nations has documented 9,177 civilian deaths thus far.
Margo describes the most challenging day in her life as the one when her partner, whom she lived with as if married, was brought to the mortuary upon his passing. Andre, aged 23, lost his life in combat on December 29, 2022.
“He died while defending his motherland,” she says. “But then, for the umpteenth time, I’ve convinced myself that I should be here, I should be helping the fallen.”
Additional body bags are being brought to light, although due to reporting restrictions, I’m unable to specify the exact quantity. The harsh reality of the extent of casualties is exposed within Ukraine’s graveyards.
Above each grave, the Ukrainian flags of yellow and blue flutter in the gentle breeze—there are numerous graves. Each one serves as a symbol within the vast sea of grief that sweeps across the eastern and southern battlefields on a daily basis, filling cemeteries in towns and villages spanning the entirety of Ukraine. Despite this, the determination to continue fighting shows no signs of weakening. If anything, the current losses seem to have intensified the resolve for victory.
Hanna Maliar, the Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, has previously issued a statement cautioning that those who disclose casualty figures could potentially face criminal prosecution.
