Ukraine Inflicted Over 35,000 Russian Casualties in March, Zelensky Says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, April 3, that Russian losses in March reached their highest monthly level since the start of the full-scale war.

According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces inflicted more than 35,000 casualties over the month, including 33,988 killed or severely wounded in drone strikes alone.

Drones drive majority of losses

Zelensky said an additional 1,363 Russian troops were killed or wounded by artillery and other weapons.

He described the figures as “confirmed losses,” adding that Ukrainian forces have video evidence of each strike.

The president credited several units for their effectiveness in drone warfare, including special operations and airborne units.

Air defenses and logistics targeted

Zelensky also said Ukrainian forces struck 274 Russian air defense systems in March.

He added that Ukrainian attacks had significantly disrupted Russian logistics and supply depots.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry is expected to publish a more detailed report on battlefield results for March, including data that can be made public, Zelensky said.

On Thursday a drone attack ignited a major fire at a key oil refinery in Ufa, over 1,400 km from Ukraine, highlighting Kyiv’s growing reach into Russia’s energy infrastructure.

Since late March, Ukrainian drones have also targeted Russian oil export ports on the Baltic Sea, through which up to 40% of the country’s oil exports pass. UAVs struck Russia’s key Baltic export hub of Ust-Luga overnight on March 30–31, the fourth attack on the port in just a week.