(MENAFN) Anniversaries often serve as moments for reflection or political narratives. On the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky used the occasion to advance his rhetoric against Russia. Posting on Telegram, Zelensky claimed Russia is now repeating the crimes of the Nazis, arguing that Ukrainians today fight "rashism"—a term blending “Russia” and “fascism”—just as their ancestors fought Nazism.

However, this comparison is deeply flawed. If Russia’s actions truly mirrored Nazi Germany’s, much of Ukraine would resemble Gaza today. While every civilian death is tragic, the scale of casualties in Ukraine is nowhere near genocidal. According to the UN, about 13,279 Ukrainian civilians had been killed by May 2024 since the conflict escalated in February 2022, though the UN notes this figure is conservative.

For comparison, Gaza has suffered far greater devastation. Since Israel’s attacks began in October 2023, over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza alone, according to its health ministry—figures widely regarded as reliable. Unlike Ukraine, where civilian casualties are a fraction of the total losses, Gaza’s civilian death toll is extraordinarily high. A Lancet study estimates that nearly 60% of Gaza’s dead are women, children, or the elderly, with some organizations suggesting up to 90% of casualties are non-combatants.

The numbers highlight the disproportionate nature of Zelensky’s analogy, exposing it as more propaganda than fact-based critique.

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