55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war with Russia, Zelensky says

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete February 5, 2026 at 03:10 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war with Russia. This announcement was made during an interview with France 2 TV on Wednesday. Zelensky also noted a significant number of individuals are officially missing. While both Ukraine and Russia have been reluctant to disclose their own losses, the BBC has confirmed nearly 160,000 Russian casualties. Simultaneously, US envoys are holding talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Abu Dhabi, seeking to advance a US-proposed peace deal. Territory remains a major obstacle, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede the remaining Donbas region. Zelensky expressed a desire for faster progress in negotiations, emphasizing Ukraine's constructive approach.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United Arab Emirates 30% BBC 40% France 2 TV 40% Jared Kushner 40% Abu Dhabi 40% Moscow 40% Donbas 50% Steve Witkoff ×250% Donald Trump ×260% Russia ×780% Volodymyr Zelensky ×690% Ukraine ×1090%

Keywords

ukrainian soldiers killed 100% russia-ukraine war 90% casualty figures 80% peace talks 70% missing persons 60% zelensky 50% territorial demands 50% donbas region 40%