Zelensky: Russia lost exactly 248,964 people this year. Nobody can check that.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday evening, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, that Ukraine will attack Russian energy and heating infrastructure this winter if it has to, even though the United States is demanding exactly the opposite from both sides.

"Ukrainians understand that this winter may be very hard for us, but in response we will have no choice but to make it hard for Russia too." (translated)

Earlier he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a man who cannot live without war and compared him to a patient who must be stopped. To illustrate how badly Russia is faring on the battlefield, he gave a figure that is interesting precisely because of its exactness: between January and August, the Russian army in Ukraine allegedly lost exactly 248,964 people. Not roughly a quarter of a million, not almost 250,000. Exactly that many.

Zelensky did not explain where the number comes from. Nor did he say who counted the Russian dead soldiers in the middle of a war, or how. The Ukrainian General Staff does regularly publish similar estimates, but they cannot be independently verified, as nobody from outside has access to the battlefield.

Zelensky added that Russia is therefore turning to mercenaries from 47 countries, mostly in Africa, but also from Nepal, India and North Korea. He called on China to influence Putin and praised Ukrainian progress in drone technology. He also mentioned that Ukraine signed a security agreement with Australia the same day, with a deal with Canada expected to follow soon.

Several other leaders spoke at the same General Assembly. Czech President Petr Pavel urged Beijing to use its influence on Moscow to end the war. Romanian President Nicusor Dan warned that the security threat goes beyond Ukraine's borders, listing cyberattacks and sabotage among the risks. Argentine President Javier Milei called the United Nations a useless organisation, while Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa assured the Assembly that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory, whatever they think about it in Jerusalem.

A more precise count of the dead is unlikely before the end of the general debate, which runs until 28 September. There will, however, be plenty more speeches.