Russia’s human and materiel losses suffered during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine are “enormous” and its army will emerge from the war severely weakened, a German general has said.
In an interview published on Friday, Christian Freuding, who oversees the German army's support for Kyiv, told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper: “You know that according to Western intelligence figures, 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or so seriously wounded that they can no longer be mobilized for the war.
“The Russian losses of men and material are enormous,” said Freuding, who is also a key advisor to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Russia is also believed to have lost thousands of battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, he said, adding: “The Russian armed forces will emerge from this war weakened, both materially and in terms of personnel.”
Leaked US intelligence earlier this month indicated that 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the war began.
Freuding cautioned however that Russia is currently still recruiting new troops “including the use of prisoners,” and is making significant efforts to replace lost equipment, AFP reports.
“And, of course, we are seeing massive investments in the arms industry,” he said.
President Vladimir Putin recently said that Moscow had voluntarily recruited 486,000 men for the army in 2023 and that efforts to build up the military next year would accelerate.
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And he promised to bolster Russia's defense capabilities, with the economy turned towards the war effort and the Kremlin shrugging off the impact of sweeping Western sanctions.
Freuding acknowledged that Russia was demonstrating a greater “resilience” than Western allies had expected at the start of the war.
“We perhaps did not see, or did not want to see, that they are in a position to continue to be supplied by allies,” he said.
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Comments (11)
Total BS.
Have you ever watched someone desperate play poker when they are almost out of money? That’s what Putin is doing, he’s going all in with the diminishing treasure of Russia and they haven’t given him permission. He just took it to go play poker. Like a drunk husband who stole his wife’s grocery money. What a nasty little man.
About time the Ukrainians started attacking Russia proper , starting at st Petersburg
As long as india buys their oil they have finance 4 this war.india wants western powers to help it against chinas aggression,well.......but it does show india in its true colours.
You are not telling the truth, you are anti Russian, and Christians should stay out of favoring killers on all sides. You will all will live in hell.
Russian trolls are out in force, attempting to lie their way to victory.
Doubt they are "deluded enough to actually believe the drivel they spew"
- just paid to try to influence against Ukraine.
As long as the Russian military keeps sending its soldiers on meat-attacks, the defenders will continue to mow them down.
The advantage of defense over offense ...
The amount of propaganda here is crazy, even for globalist run state media. Hopefully you aren't deluded enough to actually believe the drivel you spew. Ukraine has destroyed single digits of Russian aircraft. On the ground Ukraine have been slaughtered 10-1, sometimes higher. The average age of an enlisted man in ukraine is 43. There is no longer a whole generation of Ukrainians. Ukraine has lost over 1.3 million men, While that rat Zelenskyy buys 75 million dollar yachts with the american tax dollars he's embezzled.
We can take the 486k with the usual pinch of salt taken liberally with any russian numbers.
It's also about combat power and they don't have any left. They're throwing so much in Avdivka etc that their military loses combat power constantly.
It's almost as if they are killing the ethnic population so as to further their "Internal colonisation" strategy, whereby they replace the indigenous population with white russians - but forst, they have to find a way to rid themselves of the pesky indigenous species. A war with lopsided recruitment is one way to do that.
The leadership of Russia is wicked but it was wise to use inmates. Why risk the lives of your most productive citizens. It is a shame anyone has to die. However, if someone has to risk death, it is better to use inmates an the mentally ill who don't contribute to society.
Many westerners would fight for Ukraine if guaranteed citizenship for themselves and their immediate family. Many men in Africa, Asia and Latin America would fight if paid a decent wage.
The more long range weapons the west provides, the fewer Ukrainian lives lost.
Let's be honest, the numbers (even if true) are irrelevant.
The kremlin is happy to wait this one out, they are making steady gains as ukraine start to weaken. Putin cares not one jot for losses as he knows he'll get these back with interest when ukraine finally falls.
Knock a zero of the end of that and you will get closer to the truth(35,000) how can Russia have lost 89% of its military in Ukraine when it only ever committed 10% of its military’s manpower since then it’s military has doubled to 1.5 million men but say the Americans are right you can’t have it both ways how can Russia threaten the Baltic states, and Poland with invasion if it’s military has lost 89% of its strength one point contradicts the other and Russia has only had one mobilisation Ukraine has had 10 or 11 now there mobilisation everyone and trying to get men back from abroad I know what it looks like to me
What kind of statement is that? You are an idiot that can't read or write basic English! Speak Russian Vlad!
@Barry Owens, Nonce struggling with comprehension,it seems community college has failed you bubba
@James ward, that's pretty brainless stuff you're spouting there.
russia has had its annual draft as well as 2nd mobilisation. It has numerous recruitment drives of prisoners via Wagner etc and foreign mercs.
Why spout when you don't know the facts? Or you're just ignoring them because you're a russian troll.
@Cjris, Grub Ukraine started with 900 K troops where are they, receiving elite NATO training haha
@James ward, read this and learn something:
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/12/22/how-russian-officials-plan-to-recruit-400k-new-contract-soldiers-in-2024-a83509
@Cjris, Grub why is the little Mussolini Begelensky raiding gym's shopping Centers looking for cannon fodder