Defense News, citing senior Pentagon officials, reported on October 9 that Russia has suffered over 600,000 casualties from the full-scale invasion in Ukraine.
This figure comes at a particularly dangerous time in the war for Russian troops. According to reports by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces (GAFU), September was the second most lethal month for Russian troops since February 2022.
A senior U.S. official in the defense sector said on October 9 that the accelerating losses were disproportionate to Moscow’s territorial gains.
The official stated that “Russian losses – both dead and wounded – in the first year of war exceeded all Soviet losses since World War II combined.”
The official said that the mounting casualties on the front could hinder the Russian military’s efforts to recruit new soldiers, and put pressure on the Kremlin for a new mobilization.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has not announced a more extensive mobilization campaign because it is unpopular in Russia. The military has instead turned to recruiting convicts and mobilizing young conscripts. They have also tried to lure soldiers with higher salaries and benefits.
The South Korean Defense Minister stated on October 8 that Russia could also receive support from North Korea. North Korea may begin to deploy regular units in Ukraine.
Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine despite the increasing number of casualties. They are concentrating on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Donetsk Oblast. Under Russian pressure, Ukrainian soldiers are losing ground despite being outnumbered and outgunned.
On Oct. 2, Ukrainian troops withdrew their forces from the besieged city of Vuhledar in the face of a heavy Russian attack. The Ukrainian military reported on Oct. 2 that Russia had tried to capture Vuhledar “at all costs” by sending reserves against its flanks and exhausting the defending Ukrainian units.
BBC News Russia reported that the elite Marine units of Russia suffered four times more losses in a year’s worth of fighting near Vuhledar compared to the 10 years of the Second Chechen War.
A senior U.S. official told Defense News, despite the high death toll, Moscow will likely continue to rely on superior numbers in order for them make incremental gains.
The official said, “It is kind of the Russian war style where they continue to throw masses into the problem and I think we will continue to see high casualties.”
“Russian losses – both killed and injured in action – in the first year of war exceeded all Soviet losses since World War II,” a senior Pentagon officials said.
Telegram reported that at least six people died and 11 were injured in a Russian rocket strike on the southern Odesa Oblast of Ukraine on Oct. 9. Regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed this.
The European Union has approved a plan that is unprecedented in the world. It involves issuing a 35 billion euro ($37.2 billion), loan to help Ukraine’s war-torned economy. This loan will be secured by assets of Russia’s Central Bank, which are currently immobilized.
The Ukrainian General Staff stated that the destruction of the Shahed drones base would significantly reduce the ability for the Russian occupiers terrorize civilians living in Ukrainian cities and villages.
“I will meet separately with the leaders of Britain and France in each country. “I will be quick and then present the victory plan to our partners at Ramstein,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The MiG-31K is the first to land in over a year. The Belaruski Hajun group reported that three Russian MiG-31Ks had left the country in April 2023 and haven’t been seen since.
“In October, December and November we have the chance to make a real difference in moving things towards peace and stability.” Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, said that the situation on the battlefield offers an opportunity to take decisive action and end the war by 2025.
“France is a pioneer in training a fully-fledged Ukrainian Brigade on its soil.” This initiative is unprecedented in terms of both the number of soldiers trained and the duration of training,” said the French Embassy in Kyiv.
In a press release, the Ramstein Air Base stated that “announcements regarding future Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meetings will be forthcoming.”
The State Property Fund of Ukraine announced on October 9th that it sold UMCC-Titanium, a state-owned company, to Cemin Ukraine for Hr 3.94 bn hryvnia (96 million dollars).
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Laurynas stated that other bridges leading to Kaliningrad will also be fortified and some may even mined.
Berlin, initially a reluctant partner, has become Ukraine’s largest military donor after the U.S.
Viktor Orban: “I would have loved to debate the Presidential Program but I see that you are not interested.”
Ukraine’s independent press has made great strides since 2014’s EuroMaidan Revolution, but there have been concerns since the full-scale Russian invasion.
The talks will be centered around achieving peace, Ukraine’s path to NATO and EU, as well the reconstruction of Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 9.
Finland joined NATO in early 2023, after abandoning its long-standing neutral position following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
The General Staff of Ukraine said that the depot is the 67th Arsenal of Russia’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate GRAU, located near the city of Karachev.
On Oct. 8, Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, said: “We will open several champagne bottles if Trump returns.”
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