Ukrainian Soldier Claims Kiev Underreports Its Losses in Donbas

In some cases, the number of losses in the Ukrainian forces was underreported by 10-20 times, Andrian Volgin, a "Donbas" battalion fighter, said.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council under reports the number of troops killed during the military conflict in the east of the country, Andrian Volgin, a "Donbas" battalion fighter, told Franko Times website.

According to Volgin, in some cases the number of losses in the Ukrainian forces was underreported by 10-20 times.

"Sometimes 30-40 troops were killed a day. However, Andrei Lysenko [Council spokesperson] says that only two or three soldiers were killed," Volgin said.

He also admitted that the real numbers would spark panic in society.

"On the other hand, we fought for the new standards in media, and people have the right to know the truth," Volgin stated.

Earlier, officials of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic released their own data about losses of the Kiev-led forces in the military operation since January 17. According to DPR’s Deputy Defense Minister Eduard Basurin, 1,738 Kiev troops have been killed in recent three weeks, and 52 soldiers were captured by independence supporters.

Meanwhile, according to the official data provided by the Ukrainian government, a total of 1,422 troops have been killed since the beginning of the military operation in Donbas.