US Intelligence: Russian Military Casualties Exceed 10% of Total Forces... Combat Capability Lost

Over 7,000 Deaths, Including 4 Generals
Increased Focus on Urban Bombing...Concerns Over Expanding Civilian Casualties

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. intelligence agencies report that Russian forces invading Ukraine have suffered casualties exceeding 10% of their total troops, rendering their combat capability nearly impossible, according to the New York Times (NYT).

On the 17th (local time), the NYT cited contents from a daily intelligence briefing accessed by senior officials in the Biden administration, reporting, "It is estimated that the Russian military has suffered over 7,000 fatalities within less than three weeks of invading Ukraine, with injuries ranging from 14,000 to 21,000, surpassing 10% of the total invading force of 150,000 troops."

The NYT stated, "The U.S. Department of Defense considers a casualty rate of 10% in a single unit to cause morale to plummet, making it virtually impossible to carry out combat missions," adding, "There are also reports of Russian soldiers abandoning combat vehicles and fleeing." Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Department of Defense official responsible for Russia-Ukraine issues during the Obama administration, told the NYT, "This level of troop loss affects morale and unit cohesion, especially when soldiers do not understand why they are fighting."

In fact, the movement of Russian ground forces is reported to have come to a halt. According to the U.S. think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), "Ground operations are considered suspended in most areas except for the southeastern city of Mariupol, which is currently under siege," and "Russian forces failed to encircle Kyiv and Kharkiv, and with the deaths of four generals, reorganization of command structures and troop reinforcements are urgently needed. Troops from Syria, the Far East, and southern border areas are being concentrated on the Ukrainian front."

Contrary to expectations, the front lines have reached a stalemate, and with Russian forces struggling significantly, the Russian government is even shifting blame to intelligence agencies. According to the NYT, the head and deputy head of overseas intelligence at the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) were recently placed under house arrest. They are reportedly being interrogated on suspicions of providing faulty information prior to the Ukraine invasion. Russian security expert Andrei Soldatov pointed out, "They only told President Vladimir Putin what he wanted to hear regarding this invasion."

However, with President Vladimir Putin’s will to continue the war unbroken, concerns are rising that civilian casualties will increase further as Russia intensifies urban bombings using air power and missiles. Congressman Jason Crow, a member of the U.S. House Defense Intelligence Committee, said, "I do not think the current situation will affect Putin’s calculations. He does not want to lose. Cornered, he will continue to deploy troops."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.