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Russia has lost 87% of troops it had prior to start of Ukraine war, according to US intel
originally posted by: JAY1980
a reply to: Mahogani
Show me the new hectares sized graveyards in Russia like in Ukraine and I might believe you.
I'm actually astonished you are still riding Zelenskyys javelin after Ukraine suspended an election, outlawed a religion, and banned the political opposition. I was under the impression people like you oppose oppression and what not?
Strange times...
originally posted by: charlest2
a reply to: Mahogani
US intel is US propaganda chock full of sheepdip.
Ukraine is kidnapping kids and old men off of the streets to fill their ranks in the trenches now. I have heard of instances where they have been known to post rear guard shooting their own soldiers who try to retreat from the front lines.
originally posted by: JAY1980
a reply to: Mahogani
Show me the new hectares sized graveyards in Russia like in Ukraine and I might believe you.
I'm actually astonished you are still riding Zelenskyys javelin after Ukraine suspended an election, outlawed a religion, and banned the political opposition. I was under the impression people like you oppose oppression and what not?
originally posted by: Mahogani
Link
Russia has lost a staggering 87 percent of the total number of active-duty ground troops it had prior to launching its invasion of Ukraine and two-thirds of its pre-invasion tanks, a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN.
Still, despite heavy losses of men and equipment, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to push forward as the war approaches its two-year anniversary early next year and US officials are warning that Ukraine remains deeply vulnerable. A highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive stagnated through the fall, and US officials believe that Kyiv is unlikely to make any major gains over the coming months.
This is an intel assessment, based on sometimes incomplete information, so we should not consider it totally accurate. It is probably close to it, plus-minus a few percent.
That is a staggering loss of human life for Russia. I'm not talking about the weaponry; this is people. Nearly every person that started the war in Ukraine is now gone -- or incapacitated -- unable to fight again. Some of these were convicts, given chances at a new life, in exchange for a few months at the front lines. Many others were seasoned warriors, their experience and skill lost forever.
Of the 360,000 troops that entered Ukraine, including contract and conscript personnel, Russia has lost 315,000 on the battlefield, according to the assessment. 2,200 of 3,500 tanks have been lost, according to the assessment. 4,400 of 13,600 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers have also been destroyed, a 32 percent loss rate.
“As of late November, Russia lost over a quarter of its pre-invasion stockpiles of ground forces equipment,” the assessment reads. “This has reduced the complexity and scale of Russian offensive operations, which have failed to make major gains in Ukraine since early 2022.”
Putin has now upped his military and defense spending to nearly 50% of his country's GDP, mirroring the 1930s Germany military spending and preparation. But even with that large increase in military spending, how does one replace the trained warriors that are now gone? It takes time to train someone up well enough for combat. Or you can train them poorly and add to the numbers of the deceased.
Is there a draft coming in Russia? Will he conscript unwilling civilians and send them off to battle? Will he train them up well, or will he cut corners?