KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine's Defense Minister, Rustan Umerov, disclosed during the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum in Kyiv that half of the Western military support pledged to Ukraine has not arrived on time. The delay in aid shipments has complicated military planning efforts and directly resulted in the loss of Ukrainian soldiers' lives in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also speaking at the forum, revealed that since Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, a total of 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action. This acknowledgement marks the first time Kyiv has officially confirmed the number of casualties suffered during the war.

Despite commemorations held to mark the second anniversary of the conflict, Umerov emphasized the critical need for Western allies to fulfill their aid commitments promptly. He underscored the vast economic and military power wielded by Russia, noting that delayed aid deliveries result in direct consequences such as Ukrainian troop losses and territorial setbacks.

During a press conference following the forum, President Zelenskyy highlighted the detrimental impact of delayed equipment deliveries on Ukraine's military capabilities. He expressed frustration that four brigades were unable to participate in the country's counteroffensive against Russian forces due to equipment not being received as expected.

The urgency for timely and robust Western military support remains paramount, as highlighted by Umerov and Zelenskyy, in order to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russia's superior military might and minimize further losses of Ukrainian soldiers.