Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Swipe for next article
The Kremlin has dismissed the report, claiming figures from the Center for Strategic and International Studies were unreliable
Removed from bookmarks
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Russian forces have suffered the heaviest battlefield losses the world has seen since the Second World War during its invasion of Ukraine, a new study shows.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies says the war has resulted in about 1.2 million Russian casualties and between 500,000 and 600,000 Ukrainian casualties. This includes both wounded and killed troops.
As many as 325,000 Russians have been killed since the war began nearly four years ago, the think tank reported, accounting for the majority of troops killed in the war.
“No major power has suffered anywhere near these numbers of casualties or fatalities in any war since World War II,” the CSIS said, despite advancing “remarkably slowly on the battlefield”.
The Kremlin dismissed the reports on Wednesday, saying the figures should not be seen as reliable.
Elsewhere, Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of an “act of terrorism” after a Russian attack on a Ukrainian passenger train killed at least five people.
“In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism,” Zelensky said.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Tuesday afternoon, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.
Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky discussed progress made during recent peace talks in Abu Dhabi and agreed on need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, according to the statement.
The prime minister will head to China today for a visit aimed at strengthening political and business ties, after years of deepening animosity between Beijing and London, exacerbated by China’s close relationship with Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
France is against the European Union purchasing British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine, according to the Telegraph.
Eleven European countries proposed a relaxation of rules on a 90 billion euro loan so that part of the funds could be used on British weapons.
But France insists that the money should only be spent within the EU.
The current rules give priority to European and Ukrainian defence manufacturers rather than those outside of the EU.
“Meaningless” security guarantees will not be accepted by Ukraine, a top Ukrainian official has said as trilateral peace talks are set to continue this weekend.
“Unsurprisingly, after all of these experiences, Ukrainians have become extremely wary of any discussion on security guarantees. They are not going to accept another meaningless offer, no matter how nicely it is packaged under the label ‘security guarantees’,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Nato Alyona Getmanchuk wrote in the Telegraph.
“Ukrainians have no illusions that any potential break in the war in the form of a ceasefire with [Vladimir] Putin would ultimately lead to peace rather than a new round of aggression,” she continued.
“That’s why this time – unlike in 2015, when the Minsk deal on Donbas was reached and Normandy format talks were launched – security guarantees are still seen by Ukrainians as an integral part for any peace settlement, not the result of it.”
Work is underway to resolve the key territorial issue of Donestsk in peace talks, Marco Rubio has said.
The US Secretary of State described the disagreement as one of the central remaining issues, which he said was “very difficult” to settle.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Russia will take all of Ukraine’s Donbas region by force if Ukraine does not surrender it in a peace deal.
The US has also signalled that security guarantees would only be promised to Ukraine if it agrees to give up the Donbas region, of which Moscow’s forces control 90 per cent.
Belarus should be held accountable for its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, announcing sanctions against the neighbouring country’s president Alexander Lukashenko.
“The Lukashenko regime, and (Lukashenko) himself, must bear responsibility for their complicity in Russian aggression,” Sybiha told news outlet European Pravda.
Sybiha said he shares the view of much of the West that Lukashenko has rigged elections to remain in power.
“This is the so-called president. Ukraine, like other European countries, does not consider him the legitimately elected president of Belarus,” he said.
Sybiha said Lukashenko’s Belarusian regime is responsible for providing territory for attacks on Ukraine.
“This makes them complicit in the aggression against Ukraine. And now we see new elements of support for Russian aggression from the Lukashenko regime. They are providing their infrastructure for drone attacks on Ukrainian territory,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will send power generators to Ukraine, following Russia’s latest attack on Kharkiv, which knocked out power to most of the city.
President Macron spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, expressing condemnation for the attacks.
In a post on X, President Macron said: “Faced with this emergency, we are taking action. Following the G7+ meeting co-chaired by France, generators will be sent to Ukraine to help the population get through the winter.
“France’s position is clear: we will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, so that it can defend itself and thwart the war of aggression waged by Russia.”
The US has reportedly indicated that security guarantees for Ukraine are contingent on Kyiv agreeing to surrender territory in the Donbas region to Russia.
Read all you need to know in five bullet points with The Independent’s Bulletin:
Romania’s navy will carry out a controlled explosion on Wednesday on a mine that has drifted to its Black Sea shore, the defence ministry said.
The ministry said soldiers from a shooting range had found the mine on a nearby beach. It did not specify whether the mine was old or part of those found floating in the Black Sea, a key trade and energy transport route, since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have a joint task force to defuse the stray mines. Around 150 drifting mines have since been discovered and destroyed, the Romanian navy has said.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in