Data from publicly available sources on the number of Russian troops was collected by Ukrainian researcher Volodymyr Dutchenko. Before the demobilization announced last summer, Dutchenko says the Russian military was losing about 380 soldiers a day.Killed by Ukrainian forces. After mobilization, the daily death toll nearly doubled to 650 per day.
“As long as the military is fighting, Russian leaders, a complicit media and an intimidated public can portray hostility as a victory, no matter how costly,” said Axe.
In his opinion, the Kremlin has made no effort to create a force-building system for a long-term campaign and is accelerating front-line operations to avoid overburdening the system. Instead, the Russians decided to “attack training sites” and use the so-called Third Battalion.
See also: Four hours. Such is the life of a soldier on the front line in Ukraine
“Russian regiments usually consist of three battalions: two engaged in combat and the third in training. You can send this third battalion to the front, but if you do, you lose the ability to train new recruits.‘ said Kodari.
As he described it, the use of the third battalion by the Russians was a “monstrous” indication of the trajectory of the Russian war effort. The Kremlin’s next step was to draft hundreds of thousands of men, many of them middle-aged, into the army.
“Untrained, unfit for battle, Russian recruits came forward, entered the fray, and were immediately wounded or killed. To see this tragedy in real time, one only has to observe the Russian “offensive” to capture the city of Vuhletar. 4 km from Russian-held Pavlivka, described by Axe. .
Russian regiments failed to advance these few kilometers and suffered heavy losses on several attempts. The Russians lost an entire battalion, 30 or so vehicles, and hundreds of troops in one day. The journalist said.
In his opinion, “the fruits of a sick tree” and the Kremlin, “desperately trying to maintain the illusion of a successful campaign amid mounting losses.”
See also: Russia shot down its own planes in the first days of the war
Ax predicts that the Russians will now face a second wave of mobilization.
“Don’t be surprised if Russia’s daily losses double again this year. In the first year of the war, 270,000 people were killed or wounded. Russians. In the second year the total number of victims could be brought to one million‘ – concluded the advertiser.
. “Hardcore internet junkie. Award-winning bacon ninja. Social media trailblazer. Subtly charming pop culture advocate. Falls down a lot.”