At Least 670 Children Killed
Both Sides Underreport Military Casualties or Remain Silent
Over 6 Million Ukrainians Displaced from Their Homes
As the Russia-Ukraine war marks its third anniversary, investigations reveal that at least 12,600 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, including 670 children. The number of military casualties, which both countries have been downplaying, is estimated to be in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. The prolonged wartime situation has displaced over 6 million Ukrainians from their homes.
Over 29,000 Injured
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 24th, citing data from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), that the number of Ukrainian civilian deaths, including 670 children, has reached 12,600. This figure only includes deaths confirmed by the UN, and the actual death toll is believed to be higher. The number of injured exceeds 29,000. More than 790 medical facilities and approximately 1,600 schools in Ukraine have been damaged.
The international child rights NGO Save the Children urged the international community to provide support, stating that children are the most affected by the poverty caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Sonia Kush, head of Save the Children’s Ukraine office, said, "Children are suffering the most in this war," and emphasized the need for adequate support to prevent family separations and to accommodate children in protective facilities.
Military Casualties Underreported... Russia Remains Silent
Neither side has disclosed specific figures regarding military casualties. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with NBC on the 16th that since the invasion began in February 2022, over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died and 380,000 have been wounded. This is 15,000 more deaths than the 31,000 he reported in February last year. Even this figure is only about two-thirds of the 70,000 deaths reported by Ukrainian independent war journalist Yuri Butusov, who cited military sources at the end of last year. Foreign media, citing sources from Europe and the United States, estimate the death toll to be between 50,000 and 100,000.
Russian military casualties remain classified. According to a joint investigation by the British BBC and the Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, as of late January this year, Russian military deaths reached 91,000. BBC reports that one in four Russian soldiers who died had enlisted after the war began. Some prisoners have also been deployed to the front lines. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin mentioned that approximately 700,000 Russian troops have been lost, including both killed and wounded. The National Intelligence Service reported that at least 1,100 casualties have occurred among North Korean troops deployed as "cannon fodder" for the Russian army.
The number of Russian civilian casualties has not been officially confirmed. However, AFP cited regional government announcements reporting that about 350 civilians died in Russia’s western Kursk and Belgorod regions following Ukrainian attacks in August last year.
Millions of Ukrainian Displaced... Scattered Across Germany, Poland, and Russia
The prolonged wartime situation has resulted in millions of displaced Ukrainians. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as of the end of 2024, approximately 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees reside in Europe. About 1.2 million live in Germany, 1 million in Poland, and approximately 390,000 in the Czech Republic. It is also estimated that around 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees live within the Russian Federation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced this month that it is investigating approximately 50,000 cases of missing persons, including civilians and soldiers from both sides who have disappeared due to the war. Ukrainian authorities have compiled a list of missing persons, with 63,000 registered as of February 2025. Russia has not disclosed the number of missing persons, but Deputy Russian Defense Minister Anna Chibilova stated at a government meeting in November last year that 48,000 DNA test requests had been received from families of missing soldiers within Russia.
Severe Property Damage in Ukraine... U.S. Presents Bill
Ukraine has also suffered extensive property damage. According to an analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) by U.S. CNN, Ukraine has lost about 11% of its total territory since 2022. Expanding the period to include the time since 2014, before the invasion, the territory lost to Russia increases to 18%.
From January 24, 2022, to October 31, 2024, the countries supporting Ukraine financially are led by the United States, which provided 47% or $95 billion. However, this is much less than the $350 billion claimed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The European Union (EU) follows with 32%, then the United Kingdom at 8%, Japan at 5%, and Canada at 4%. South Korea did not record a significant amount. However, on November 29 last year (local time), the Ukrainian government announced that it had received a $100 million (approximately 139.6 billion KRW) loan from the South Korean government, expected to be used for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
Earlier this month, President Trump stated in an interview with Fox News, "I told them I want compensation equivalent to about $500 billion worth of rare earth elements," indicating his intention to demand compensation including access to rare earth minerals. President Zelensky has consistently rejected demands that exclude "security guarantees for Ukraine." British newspapers such as The Telegraph have strongly criticized Trump’s demands, calling them "virtually the colonization of Ukraine."
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