In addition, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of pieces of equipment, with approximately 2,200 of the 3,500 tanks that Moscow possessed at the time reported destroyed.
Ricardo Fan/DefesaNet
According to a recently released US intelligence report, Russia has faced a high number of casualties since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. In February 2022, the Russian army had around 360,000 soldiers, of whom 315,000 (87%) were reportedly killed, as the report indicates. There was also a considerable decrease in the arsenal, with the Americans reporting that of the 3,500 Russian tanks at the time, 2,200 were destroyed. In addition, approximately 4,400 of the 13,600 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers were rendered useless, representing a loss rate of 32%.
The document states: “By the end of November, Russia saw more than a quarter of its pre-invasion ground forces equipment stocks lost. This has resulted in a reduction in the complexity and breadth of Russian offensive operations, which have failed to achieve major breakthroughs in Ukraine since early 2022.”
he US authorities claimed that Russia’s war effort was maintained thanks to the relaxation of recruitment criteria and the use of older Soviet-era equipment. This included initiatives such as the compulsory recruitment of new soldiers, the mobilization of detainees and the use of T-62 tanks over 50 years old. Despite this, the report highlighted that the war had a significant impact on Moscow’s efforts to modernize its Army.
“The conflict in Ukraine represented a considerable setback in 15 years of Russian efforts to modernize its ground forces,” mentioned the recently released report. “By the end of November, Russia had lost more than a quarter of its pre-2022 ground forces equipment stockpile and recorded casualties in its professionally trained army contingent.”
Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the US National Security Council, reported that in the latest offensive, Russia has had more than 13,000 killed and wounded, as well as losing more than 220 combat vehicles during clashes near Avdiivka and other cities.
According to officials in Washington, the Russian forces were expecting a rapid advance, but encountered strong resistance from Ukrainian troops, especially after Kiev transferred contingents from the south to reinforce its units in the east. Although Ukraine has also suffered casualties, the report indicates that these are not as considerable as those of Russia. The casualty figures on both sides of the conflict are estimates, as emphasized. There is a belief that Moscow generally minimizes its numbers of dead and wounded in war situations, while Kiev does not make its official data public.
The release of this report coincides with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden, seeking to unlock the release of more resources and equipment for his country. The US administration supports this initiative, but it is currently stalled in Congress.
The White House is requesting an additional US$50 billion in security aid for Ukraine. However, many conservative Republicans are skeptical about the country’s ability to win the conflict and seek substantial changes to US border security policy as part of a funding deal.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***