US: "Since December Last Year, 100,000 Russian Soldiers Killed or Wounded in Ukraine... Most Are Prisoners"

U.S. authorities announced that the casualties of Russian forces invading Ukraine since December last year have exceeded 100,000. Accordingly, the total number of Russian military casualties since the outbreak of the war is estimated to be over 200,000. It is reported that a significant portion of the deceased were prisoners assigned to the Wagner Group, a mercenary unit, and deployed in assault operations without sufficient training. With Ukraine's large-scale counteroffensive imminent, there is growing interest in whether the sharp increase in Russian casualties will significantly impact the future frontline situation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

According to CNN on the 1st (local time), John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said during a phone briefing that "Since December last year, about 100,000 Russian troops deployed to Ukraine have suffered casualties, with more than 20,000 of them killed," adding, "Almost half of the casualties are Wagner Group soldiers, most of whom were prisoners deployed to the Battle of Bakhmut without adequate training."

He continued, "Russia has continued to focus on a single Ukrainian city of limited strategic value," and pointed out, "The conclusion is that Russia's offensive attempts have backfired." Since December last year, Russian forces have poured nearly six months of effort into Bakhmut offensives but have yet to fully control the city.

In particular, Bakhmut is classified as a region of limited tactical value among the main frontlines in the eastern Donbas area, but both Russian and Ukrainian forces have engaged in fierce battles over this area. Bakhmut has emerged as a frontline region directly linked to the overall morale of both countries' armies, resulting in massive military resources being consumed in this area.

With Russian casualties reaching 100,000 over six months, the total casualties since the outbreak of the war have surged to over 200,000. Earlier, in a speech last November, Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained that "about 100,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the eight months since the war began."

A confidential U.S. Department of Defense document leaked last month on social media, which sparked controversy, estimated that as of February, Russian military casualties ranged from approximately 189,500 to 223,000, with up to 43,000 deaths. With Ukraine's large-scale counteroffensive expected to begin soon, the sharp rise in Russian casualties has raised expectations that Ukrainian forces will recover significant territory.

The U.S. side has been cautious about commenting on Ukraine's counteroffensive operations. Coordinator Kirby said regarding the timing of Ukraine's announced spring counteroffensive, "It is a decision for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make," adding, "Ukraine has no obligation to notify the U.S. However, the U.S. communicates with Ukraine daily, so generally, we have a sense of it."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.