Russia’s Military Losses in Ukraine Surpass 700,000, Says U.S. Defense Secretary
In a stark assessment of Russia’s military capabilities, U.S. Defense Secretary Austin has revealed that Moscow has lost over 700,000 soldiers in Ukraine since 2022. This figure represents more than two-thirds of Russia’s entire military strength at the start of the conflict, which Austin attributed to President Putin’s decision to invade.
Austin further disclosed that Russia’s losses have been so severe that Moscow has resorted to deploying troops from North Korea to bolster its forces in Ukraine. Since September 2023, North Korean forces have suffered over a thousand casualties, underscoring the desperation of Putin’s military strategy.
The U.S. Defense Secretary’s comments come as Russia continues to sustain heavy daily losses on the Ukrainian front. On January 8 alone, Russian forces lost 1,430 soldiers, along with 86 drones and 16 armored vehicles. This trend of significant Russian losses has persisted throughout the conflict, with November and December 2023 marking record-breaking months for Russian casualties.
According to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Russia’s losses have been so severe that they equate to nearly 36 motostrelkovye divisions (approximately 430,790 soldiers) in 2023 alone. Moreover, Russian authorities have acknowledged the deaths of over 80,973 of their soldiers in Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, with a significant portion of these casualties being volunteers.
As the conflict continues, Russia’s military losses serve as a grim testament to the human cost of Putin’s war in Ukraine. For the latest updates on the war, follow RBC-Ukraine’s Telegram channel.
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