**Ukrainian Forces Neutralize 15,000 Russian Soldiers**
Ukraine’s military says they have killed or injured over 15,000 Russian soldiers in the Donetsk Oblast region. This is according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who made the announcement on Facebook.
Syrskyi posted a video of combat footage and said that Ukrainian forces are “continuously inflicting losses” on Russian troops. He added that more than 7,000 Russian soldiers were killed in January alone.
However, it’s not possible to verify these numbers.
**Russian Forces Under Pressure**
A report from the monitoring group DeepState says that overall, Russian attacks along the front lines have decreased in intensity. But the group notes that Russian forces are still focusing most of their efforts on the Pokrovsk sector.
In this area, Russian troops are trying to surround Ukrainian forces. Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, said on January 27 that Russian soldiers were using small groups to try and encircle Ukrainian troops.
**Russian Losses Mount**
Since the start of 2022, Ukraine says that 840,260 Russian troops have been killed or injured. This is a significant number, and experts warn that it could lead to a major demographic problem for Russia.
The country’s population could be reduced by half by the end of the century if losses continue at this rate. Harley Balzer, a professor from Georgetown University, said that the impact on Russian society would be devastating.
**The Bigger Picture**
Winning the war in Ukraine is not as important to Russia as keeping its own population intact. Experts say that Russia’s real concern is whether it will remain a viable country after this conflict ends.
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