Defense Minister at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting: Russia faces massive losses
Photo: Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian occupying forces are suffering enormous losses in their attempts to advance. Russia is losing hundreds of soldiers for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory they manage to capture, according to a statement by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.
Mykhailo Fedorov said that Ukraine is holding its positions on the battlefield and increasing pressure on the Russian occupying forces. He noted that Russian losses now exceed the monthly mobilization level that the Kremlin is able to sustain.
"We are making every meter of Ukrainian land extremely costly for the enemy. Russia is now losing 254 soldiers for every square kilometer. In the Donetsk region, the enemy loses on average 428 soldiers per square kilometer," Fedorov said.
The minister added that Ukraine’s air defense has significantly strengthened. The interception rate of cruise missiles has reached 80%, while drone interception exceeds 90%, despite a very difficult winter during which Russia attempted to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
"Between November and March, the Kremlin launched 462 ballistic missiles, nearly 600 cruise missiles, and 27 thousand Shahed-type drones against Ukraine. To break our energy system and leave our people in darkness. But Ukraine endured," Fedorov noted.
He assured that Ukraine is seeking peace and continues diplomatic efforts. Still, diplomacy must be reinforced by pressure on the battlefield and strikes against Russia to reduce its ability to sustain the war.
"Ukraine is increasing pressure on Russia’s economy. Particularly in the energy sector. Our actions are disrupting logistics, increasing costs, and reducing the resources available for financing this war," the minister concluded.
Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting: Details
The next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is scheduled for April 15. The main topics of the meeting will be strengthening air defense and developing unmanned systems.
Earlier, Mykhailo Fedorov held talks with his counterparts from Belgium and Spain, during which the parties coordinated key areas of cooperation ahead of the upcoming Ramstein meeting.
It is also noted that, in addition to receiving weapons, Kyiv is currently working to change the logic of how “Ramstein” itself operates. Reforming the format is intended to ensure that each participating country has a clear understanding of its specific long-term contributions to Ukraine’s defense capability.
