“A lot of things now depend on American elections. The result will have an influence either way,” warned Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia has imported £126 million worth of artificial limbs from European Union countries over the past year, according to figures showing a five-fold increase in prosthetic trade from Germany compared to pre-war levels, despite the Kremlin’s ongoing military campaign against Ukraine.
Surging Western Prosthetic Imports
The imports include £66 million worth of man-made joints sourced from Germany alone during the first half of 2026. Shipments from other EU nations, including the Netherlands and Belgium, have pushed the total expenditure on prosthetic arms and legs to nearly double pre-war volumes in the year leading up to June.
Kyiv Condemns Medical Procurement
The trade has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv regarding the procurement of medical supplies from nations allied against Moscow. Ukrainian military officials noted that the substantial funds allocated for these imports could have alternatively financed the construction of 1,000 new schools and 200 hospitals, or provided significant financial support for families and children since the outbreak of the four-year conflict.
Mounting Casualties and Equipment Toll
The scale of military-related expenditures remains vast as casualty numbers mount. The conflict has generated over 1.58 million casualties within Russian forces, while military equipment losses have surpassed £150 billion. The Kremlin continues to disburse approximately £70 million per day in benefits to the families of dead soldiers and wounded troops.
Battlefield losses include more than 12,000 tanks, 50,000 artillery systems, 25,000 armoured fighting vehicles, and roughly 800 aircraft, including 350 helicopters.
Washington Elections and Regional Fallout
Against this backdrop, Zelensky warned that his country’s strategic trajectory could be heavily influenced by upcoming political developments in the United States. Speaking regarding the impact of the US midterm elections, Zelensky said the result will have an influence on Ukraine, the war, the attitude to Russians, and different deals with them.
The political commentary follows recent statements from Washington, occurring as civilian areas continue to experience strikes. In Kharkiv, a recent drone attack resulted in civilian casualties, including one-year-old Angelina Mariukhna and her mother, Inna, 28.
Upcoming Peace Talks in the UAE
Diplomatic efforts remain scheduled as representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington prepare to convene for peace talks in the United Arab Emirates next month.
“And of course it will have influence on a lot of different things, including Ukraine, including the war in Ukraine, including the attitude to Russians and different deals with them. So I think that we will see. I don’t know, but changes are understandable,” Zelensky added.
