Zelenskyy Refutes WSJ Claims on Ukrainian Casualties: “This is a Lie”

During a September 20 press conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuted the Ukrainian military loss figures reported by The Wall Street Journal on September 17, asserting that the actual numbers are much lower.

“80,000? This is a lie. The real figure is much less than what has been published,” Zelenskyy asserted.

The initial report, published on September 17, estimated that combined Ukrainian and Russian casualties have reached around one million, with the Journal stating that 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 400,000 injured, while Russian casualties are said to be about 200,000.

Zelenskyy’s comments highlight ongoing concerns regarding the accuracy of casualty reporting in Western media. Recently, another outlet, Bild, faced criticism for claiming Ukraine was prepared to consider a “freeze” in hostilities, a narrative that Zelenskyy also described as a fabrication.