Full Donbas occupation would cost Russia 800,000 soldiers, take 2 years – Zelenskyy
Russia would need at least two years and suffer 800,000 military deaths to fully occupy eastern Ukraine’s Donbas Oblast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with French broadcaster France 2, according to Le Monde.
"Russia wants us to leave the entire Donbas Oblast. Since the beginning of this war, they have not won a single victory. And we, Ukrainians, understand perfectly well the price the Russian army is paying for every meter, every kilometer of this land. They do not count the people who are dying," the head of state said.
According to Zelenskyy, the occupation of eastern Ukraine will cost the Russians 800,000 lives: "It will take at least two years, and progress will be very slow. In my opinion, they will not last that long."
The president also spoke about a possible freeze in the conflict. He noted that even if Ukraine maintains its current positions under such conditions, it will already be a significant concession on its part.
"The Russians need a break. If we are talking about a demilitarized zone, we must have control over our part," Zelenskyy concluded.
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