Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that, according to information received from the Ukrainian side, Ukraine’s recent losses amount to around 27,000 military personnel killed or wounded each month. He described this figure as a record high for the war and attributed it to new Russian tactics and the widespread use of rocket-powered drones.
- Tusk put Ukraine’s losses at 27,000 a month.
- This figure includes both the dead and the wounded.
- The Prime Minister cited data from Ukrainian partners.
- He described this figure as a record.
Tusk stated that there were 27,000 casualties every month
Donald Tusk He quoted the figure during a speech in the Polish Sejm on 17 September. According to him, the information on the current level of losses had been provided to him by his Ukrainian partners.
In the transcript of the speech that is available, Tusk speaks specifically about 27,000 dead and wounded per month, that is to say, it is not just a matter of irreparable losses. The Prime Minister described this figure as a record high since the war began.
This figure is based on a statement by the Polish Prime Minister. As of 19 September, it has not been separately confirmed publicly by the General Staff, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine or the President of Ukraine in public messages.
Tusk attributed the rise in casualties to the Russian Federation’s new tactics
The Polish Prime Minister stated that, in his view, the rise in casualties is linked to Russia’s new strategy and its new technical capabilities.
He drew particular attention to jet-powered strike drones, which move considerably faster than traditional ones Shahed and are capable of operating at higher altitudes. In his speech, Tusk noted that effectively countering such aircraft remains a difficult task, not only for Ukraine.
Reuters had previously also reported that Ukraine is facing a far more serious threat due to Russian jet drones: they can reach speeds of over 400 km/h, and developing cost-effective means of intercepting them remains a technological challenge.
Polish Prime Minister has warned of a difficult winter
Tusk stated that, if the current trend continues, the coming winter could prove particularly difficult for Ukraine.
An official statement from the Polish Prime Minister’s Office states that Warsaw considers late autumn and winter as the most critical period of the war. According to the Polish side, Russia plans to step up its attacks on the Ukrainian economy, logistics and major cities.
Tusk also warned of the risk of attacks near the Polish border and stated that Poland was strengthening the air defence of its border infrastructure.
Poland has joined the anti-ballistic coalition
The day after his speech, Tusk arrived in Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Polish Prime Minister announced that Warsaw had officially joined the anti-ballistic coalition Ukraine and its partners. Its aim is to work together to develop more affordable and widely available means of countering ballistic threats. Poland has also announced that it is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine.
