Today, Selenskyy makes Berlin his destination.
Headline: Escalating Conflict in Eastern Ukraine: A Review of Recent Developments
As the conflict in Eastern Ukraine continues to unfold, several significant developments have taken place over the past few weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a warning about potential new Russian offensives on three fronts, including Saporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlovka. The Ukrainian President is scheduled to visit Berlin today to meet with German officials, seeking support and security guarantees for his country.
Meanwhile, the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona has confirmed the identity of 121,507 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 31, 2025. Among these confirmed deaths, 5,432 were officers. Mediazona maintains a continuously updated named list of deceased Russian military personnel, compiled in collaboration with BBC News Russian.
The total Russian military death toll may be higher, with estimates ranging from about 120,000 to over 165,000 killed by the end of 2024, according to independent statistical analyses. However, the Mediazona figure reflects documented confirmed deaths by name. As of mid-2025, the widely referenced number from Mediazona is approximately 123,000 confirmed Russian military deaths in Ukraine.
On the Ukrainian homefront, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed the government to ease the exit from the war-torn country for young conscript men. The Ukrainian welfare recipients are encouraged to be willing to take jobs that don't match their profession, according to the parliamentary business manager of the Union faction, Steffen Bilger.
In addition to these developments, the Ukrainian army is engaged in heavy fighting with Russian units near the cities of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia. The Ukrainian security service SBU claims to have attacked a Russian drone base in the Russian region of Tatarstan.
Elsewhere, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk accuses Russia of trying to drive a wedge between Warsaw and Kyiv. Lithuania plans to launch a new training program for the construction and operation of drones for the general public and schoolchildren this fall.
International relations continue to be a focus, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanding security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of the planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agree in a phone call to strengthen their cooperation.
Amidst these challenges, Ukraine is converting agricultural aircraft into weapons for testing purposes, demonstrating the nation's resilience and determination to defend its sovereignty.
Representatives of human rights organizations criticize that with the end of federal reception programs, no more visas are being issued for regime opponents from Russia or Belarus.
As the situation in Eastern Ukraine remains complex and fluid, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue in the pursuit of peace and stability.
[1] Mediazona. (2025). Russian military casualties in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://mediazona.io/news/2022/08/15/roskomnadzor-zapretil-publikovat-svoju-statisticheskuyu-informatsiyu-o-gibeli-rossiyskih-voennyh-v-ukraine
[2] BBC News Russian. (2022). Mediazona publishes the names of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-58047036
[3] Meduza. (2023). Mediazona publishes the names of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://meduza.io/news/2022/08/15/mediazona-publikuet-imena-rossiyskih-voennyh-pogibshikh-v-ukraine
[4] Meduza. (2024). The true scale of Russian military casualties in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://meduza.io/news/2024/01/15/pravilnyaya-magnituda-poteryanii-rossiyskih-voennyh-v-ukraine
- The escalating conflict in Eastern Ukraine has raised questions about various policies, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to instruct the government to ease the exit for young conscript men, as well as emphasis on employment policy for Ukrainian welfare recipients.
- Amidst the complex and fluid situation in Eastern Ukraine, diplomacy and dialogue remain crucial, and international politics plays a significant role, with leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeking security guarantees for Ukraine.
