Russian forces are accused of committing atrocities during their month-long occupation of the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were reportedly murdered. Amidst these allegations, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that Russia experienced a staggering 434,000 casualties in 2024 alone. Ukrainian General Staff figures suggest nearly 819,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, captured, or wounded since the conflict began.
In eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, Russian troops have seized control of the village of Vozdvyzhenka, intensifying the ongoing conflict. During the occupation, Ukrainian military medic Natalya described the harrowing experience of civilians, stating:
"There’s explosions here, bangs there, we always expect something bad. But now we just stood still, forgot about everything, and prayed to God."
Meanwhile, Russia's Investigative Committee has accused Ukrainian forces of committing crimes in the village of Russkoe Porechnoye. Ukraine has not officially responded to these allegations. In December 2024, Kyiv reported that 2,200 Russian soldiers died within a single day, marking Russia's worst toll since the conflict commenced.
In a recent development, Russia's foreign spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of conducting a "cannibalistic massacre of civilians," as Moscow launched a criminal investigation into alleged Ukrainian attacks on civilians in Russia's Kursk region.
Despite the war's impact, Ukraine celebrated the Orthodox holiday Epiphany on Sunday, highlighting a religious divide exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. Both nations continue to accuse each other of targeting non-combatants, while consistently denying each other's claims.
Western assessments present lower casualty figures for Russian forces. An October report indicates up to 115,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and 500,000 wounded since the full-scale invasion began.
On Sunday night, Ukraine successfully intercepted 43 out of 61 drones launched by Russia. Following a surprise offensive in the Kursk region, Ukraine has gained control over dozens of border settlements and claims approximately 2,000 civilians reside in these occupied areas.