Marking the grim milestone of four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale military invasion, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Egypt, H.E. Mykola Nahornyi, held a comprehensive press briefing detailing the catastrophic human, economic, and environmental toll of the ongoing war.
Ambassador Nahornyi emphasized that Ukraine’s resistance has now lasted longer than the 1941-1945 war between the Nazi Third Reich and the USSR, underscoring the unprecedented scale of the conflict in modern history.
The Frontline and Civilian Toll
The Ambassador highlighted the staggering losses faced by the Russian forces, citing data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As of February 2026, Russia has reportedly lost over 1.25 million soldiers and vast amounts of military hardware, including over 11,600 tanks and 435 aircraft.
Despite these losses, Russian strikes continue to target civilians. In just one week (February 8-15, 2026), Russia launched approximately 1,300 attack drones and 1,200 guided bombs. The Ambassador noted that the damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure is immense, with the transportation system alone suffering losses exceeding $36 billion, while the total estimate of damage caused by the war has reached approximately $800 billion.
Energy and Nuclear Blackmail
A significant portion of the briefing focused on energy security. Ambassador Nahornyi revealed that since October 2025, Russia has damaged 8.5 GW of Ukraine’s power generation capacity. He described these deliberate strikes on heating and water supplies during winter as an attempt to "inflict conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction," aligning with the definition of genocide.
Regarding nuclear safety, the Ambassador warned of the "nuclear blackmail" involving the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). "Russia has turned Europe’s largest nuclear plant into a military base and a firing position," Nahornyi stated, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops to prevent a global disaster.
Global Food Security and Egypt’s Role
Addressing a topic of vital importance to the region, the Ambassador detailed the war's impact on global food supplies. Despite the destruction of 30% of Ukraine’s agricultural capacity, the "Ukrainian Maritime Corridor" has managed to transport 168.9 million tonnes of cargo since September 2023.
Significantly, the Ambassador pointed out that in 2025, Russia illegally expropriated over 2 million tons of Ukrainian grain (worth $400 million) from occupied territories. He noted that nearly 40% of this stolen grain was delivered to Egypt via a "shadow grain fleet," calling for international sanctions against all parties involved in this illicit trade.
Humanitarian Crisis and Deported Children
The briefing shed light on the systematic "ethnic cleansing" through the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Ambassador Nahornyi reported that approximately 1.6 million children remain under Russian control, with thousands subjected to "re-education camps" aimed at Russification and militarization. To date, only 1,982 children have been successfully repatriated.
The Path to Peace
On the diplomatic front, Ambassador Nahornyi reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to a just peace based on territorial integrity and sovereignty. He referenced recent trilateral meetings in the UAE involving the US and Russia, with upcoming talks planned for Miami and Geneva.
"Ukraine is ready for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire," the Ambassador concluded, "but our red lines remain unchanged: respect for our borders and our right to choose our own security alliances."
Follow the latest news on Google News
