Military chiefs claim 180,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since invasion
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Military chiefs claim Putin has lost 180,000 troops since invading Ukraine: Russia’s recent gains despite the number of dead and wounded have ‘semi-stabilized their front line, but not enough to achieve a strategic breakthrough’
Up to 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the war in Ukraine, military chiefs say.
The Norwegian Army estimate is much higher than previously thought.
Top US General Mark Milley suggested the death toll was around 100,000 last November. It is unclear how many troops Ukraine has lost since the country was invaded on February 24, 2022. Both sides have a policy of not disclosing losses.
Vladimir Putin’s army is currently making a desperate attempt to seize the territory before more than 300 Western tanks arrive in the war zone in Ukraine.
Up to 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the war in Ukraine, military chiefs say.
Top US General Mark Milley suggested that the death toll for the Russian army was around 100,000 last November.
Western officials said Russia was trying to replace lost troops with hundreds of thousands of reservists and a partial mobilization of civilians, including convicts. They admitted that Russia was making “gradual gains” in eastern Ukraine, but insisted that the Kremlin’s forces are not large enough to achieve a strategic breakthrough.
Putin’s partial mobilization has “semi-stabilized” Russia’s front line, which is making progress again after months of setbacks and stagnation.
One official said: ‘Russia has achieved some tactical successes, but this is a ‘sideshow of a sideshow’. Russia has more mass [than Ukraine] but the reservists brought to the front are unlikely to have formed into cohesive groups. Russia is trying to gain momentum, but her forces are not up to the strategic tasks entrusted to them ”.
The official predicted that the “abrasive conflict” is likely to continue through this year.
About the influx of Western tanks, they said: “Russia is aware of the deadlines.” Ukraine is in a defensive position at the moment while waiting for the tanks.
Vladimir Putin’s army is making a desperate attempt to seize the territory before more than 300 Western tanks arrive in the war zone in Ukraine.
Most will be German-built Leopard 2s following a landmark decision by Berlin to send tanks and lift export restrictions affecting NATO allies.
Other tanks include 14 British Challenger 2s and 31 US M1 Abrams.
Ukrainian crews began training in the UK this week. The troops, accompanied by the British tanks, will return to the country at the end of March. They are already skilled tank drivers, but they must adapt to the specific requirements of Challenger 2.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have captured towns in the Donetsk province. Their goal is to secure the strategically significant city of Bakhmut.
Before the invasion it had a population of 70,000. But civilians fled the city as Russian forces closed in.
Ukraine may have to withdraw from Bakhmut, a move that would deal a major blow to the country’s morale.
A Western official said: ‘Bakhmut is totemic in the public narrative, which puts both sides under pressure. But it will be necessary to exercise military judgment.
‘We are not going to speculate on the result. In the past, Ukraine has been wise in timing withdrawals when redrawing its defensive lines. There will be land swaps and the conflict is not going to end anytime soon.’