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‘70,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In War’

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy Nees

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News)— Ukraine’s trumpeted counter-offensive against invading Russian troops is suffering significant setbacks, with U.S. officials saying some 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died and as many as 120,000 were injured.

While official data remain classified, the figure mentioned by well-informed officials seemed huge. Ukraine’s armed forces were estimated at only half a million strong.

The United Nations has recorded 9,177 civilian deaths, though officials say the actual number could be much higher.

Two months in, Ukraine’s big offensive has only made small gains, with Russia’s army preparing for a long battle, including in tranches resembling World War One.

Many unknown soldiers lie piled high in a small brick mortuary, not very far from the front line in Donetsk, where 26-year-old Margo says she speaks to the dead.

“It may sound weird… but I’m the one who wants to apologize for their deaths. I want to thank them somehow. It’s as if they can hear, but they can’t respond,” she told Britain’s broadcaster BBC.

CLUTTERED DESK

At her cluttered desk outside the mortuary’s heavy door, she sits, pen in hand. It is her job to record the particulars of the fallen.

Yet, while Ukraine continues to suffer attacks, Moscow has also accused Kyiv of attacks inside Russia.

Reports from Russia early Wednesday said there was “a drone attack” on the airport of the north-western city of Pskov.

The local governor claimed the military was repelling an attack. He showed a video of a large fire while an explosion could also be heard.

Russian media said four Ilyushin 76 transport planes were damaged at the airport, but Kyiv declined to comment.

Pskov is more than 600 kilometers (372 miles) from Ukraine, close to the border with Estonia, a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance.