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Russia has lost 87% of troops it had prior to start of Ukraine war, according to US intelligence assessment
CNN ^ | Tue December 12, 2023 | Katie Bo Lillis

Posted on 12/12/2023 4:25:44 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

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.

The assessment, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday, comes as some Republicans have balked at the US providing additional funding for Ukraine and the Biden administration has launched a full-court press to try to get supplemental funding through Congress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington on Tuesday, meeting with US lawmakers and President Joe Biden in desperate bid to secure the military and economic aid he says is vital to Ukraine’s ability to maintain the fight against Russia.

Russia has been able to keep its war effort going despite the heavy losses by relaxing recruitment standards and dipping into Soviet-era stockpiles of older equipment. Still, the assessment found that the war has “sharply set back 15 years of Russian effort to modernize its ground force.”

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cnn; katiebolillis; russia; ukraine; war; xinn
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To: Travis McGee

Watched the podcast, thanks for the link. Chilling but expected.


201 posted on 12/13/2023 4:30:38 PM PST by Reddy (BO stinks)
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To: ought-six
In WWII, Russian generals would send troops across mine fields, ahead of any armor. The general, when asked about it, said it was cheaper: One tank was far more valuable than a squad or two of men.

Yes, but this isn't WWII. The Ukies didn't invade Russia, and don't want to colonize all of Russia West of the Urals. The Ruskies invaded Ukraine. As the death total climbs and the wounded return to Russia without limbs, this war of aggression is becoming less popular there. When a certain limit is crossed, Russia will experience another civil war like during WWI.
202 posted on 12/13/2023 5:24:20 PM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: Dr. Franklin

My point is that Russia doesn’t place a very high premium on flesh and blood.


203 posted on 12/13/2023 5:26:45 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
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To: ought-six
My point is that Russia doesn’t place a very high premium on flesh and blood.

Yes, and during WWI that resulted in the Bolshevik Revolution and the end of Imperial Russia and the Tsars. It could happen again.
204 posted on 12/13/2023 5:58:25 PM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: Dr. Franklin

Yes, it could.


205 posted on 12/13/2023 5:58:56 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
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To: USA-FRANCE

Why revitalize our military industrial complex only to ship it to Ukraine? Why not keep it here because we are going to need it after SloJoe emptied our war stockage as a grift to Ukraine in exchange for an under table payoff.

Europe is only revitalizing their war stockages like us because the morons are not any smarter than our government and gave Sweaterman everything he ask for.

You ever think this might be a hoodwink where Sweaterman and Putty are working in unison so the rest of world in defenseless?


206 posted on 12/13/2023 9:24:57 PM PST by Slingwing
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