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.

    • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Every Russian bot says that though, but then they start saying ‘oh actually Western media is all lies and glorious Russia is totally winning the war!’

      Lucky for you, I don’t believe that either.

      Let me guess, it actually says that Russia is totally winning and actually not getting humiliated by Ukraine?

      No, it doesn’t; Russia is getting humiliated by Ukraine. But it also says they’ve expended only about 1/3 of their armed forces:

      Of the 360,000 troops that made up Russia’s pre-invasion ground force, 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.

      Before the invasion, Russia had a total standing military of approximately 900,000 active-duty troops, including ground troops, airborne troops, special operations and other uniformed personnel, according to the CIA. Since the start of the invasion, Russia has announced plans to increase the size of the armed forces to 1.5 million. The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced several rounds of conscription, including its regular fall conscription cycle on October 1.

        • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I literally just quoted the article. Which side are you on? Is Western media trustworthy or not???

          we only started sending untrained conscripts with one rifle per two men as a joke!

          Ha, yeah, it’s wild that that’s happening. I don’t expect the last two thirds to be… competent, or well-equipped, FWIW.