
(TheConservativeTimes.org) – Serious questions have been raised about Russia’s ability to sustain its aggressive campaign as the Pentagon’s shocking revelation of over 600,000 Russian military casualties in Ukraine exposes the true cost of Vladimir Putin’s war.
Despite the massive losses, Moscow continues to push forward in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, inching closer to the city of Pokrovsk.
This relentless advance comes at a horrific human cost, with September marking the deadliest month for Russian forces since the conflict began.
A senior U.S. defense official did not mince words about the scale of Russian losses, stating, “Russian losses, again both killed and wounded in action, in just the first year of the war exceeded the total of all Soviet losses in any conflict since World War 2 combined.”
The Kremlin’s war machine showed no signs of slowing down despite predictions of its imminent collapse.
Russia has lost two-thirds of its pre-war tank stock and suffered significant damage to its Black Sea naval fleet.
“It’s kind of the Russian way of war where they continue to throw mass into the problem, and I think we’ll continue to see high losses,” a U.S. military official stated, highlighting the brutal nature of Russia’s strategy.
While Russia bleeds its forces dry, Ukraine is not without its own losses. U.S. estimates put Ukrainian casualties at slightly more than half of Russia’s, with over 57,500 killed and 250,000 wounded.
Furthermore, the conflict has taken on the characteristics of a “meat grinder,” with Russian commanders seemingly willing to sacrifice countless infantry soldiers in their push for territorial gains.
This ruthless approach has led to incremental advances in the Donbas region but at an unconscionable cost in human lives.
“September was the bloodiest month of the war for Russian forces in Ukraine.” U.S. officials said.
As the war drags on, questions arise about Russia’s ability to sustain its military efforts. The Kremlin has so far avoided a larger draft, relying instead on higher pensions and pay to recruit soldiers.
Meanwhile, concerns grow about potential support for Russia from rogue states. South Korea’s defense minister has warned of the possibility of North Korean troops joining the fight, a move that would further complicate the geopolitical landscape and potentially escalate the conflict.
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