NATO estimates that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers were killed in the four-week-old war in Ukraine. The fierce fighting of the country’s fast moving defenders has prevented Moscow from achieving the quick victory it desired.
Russia lost approximately 15,000 troops in Afghanistan over a period of 10 years.
Senior NATO military officials stated that the alliance’s estimate was based upon information from Ukrainian authorities, what Russia released — intentionally or unintentionally — and intelligence gathered openly. Under NATO ground rules, the official spoke under anonymity.
February was the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion of Russia was Europe’s largest since World War II. It seemed that Ukraine would be overthrown quickly. Moscow is now stuck in a military campaign that has been going on for four weeks, with Wednesday being the fourth day of fighting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops, armed with Western-supplied weapons and hit-and-run Ukrainian units, have slowed down or stopped ground forces from Russia. They are now bombarding targets from far away, reverting to the same tactics used to reduce cities to rubble in Syria, Chechnya, and elsewhere.
Joe Biden, the U.S. President, left Europe to discuss new sanctions against Moscow and increased military aid to Ukraine. He warned that Russia is “really at risk” of using chemical weapons.
The U.S. government also believes that Russian troops committed war crimes against Ukraine and will pursue those responsible, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated. He provided evidence of deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on civilians, as well as the destruction of apartments, schools, hospitals and shopping centers, among other things.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zeleskyy addressed Japan’s parliament and stated that thousands of his citizens had been killed, including at most 121 children.
“Our people are unable to adequately bury their loved ones, friends, and neighbors who have been murdered.” He said that they should be buried in the yards of the destroyed buildings next to the roads.
Still, major Russian objectives remain unfulfilled. The capital of Kyiv has been repeatedly bombarded, but it isn’t even surrounded.
On Wednesday, the city was rocked by near-constant gunfire and shelling. Plumes of black smoke rose from the western outskirts of the city, as the two sides fought for control over multiple suburbs. Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that at least 264 civilians were killed in the capital city since the outbreak of war.
The encircled port of Mariupol in the south has suffered the most severe devastation from the war. It was subject to weeks of bombardment, and is now fighting street-by-street. However, Ukrainian forces prevented its fall. This was despite an apparent attempt by Moscow to secure the land bridge linking Russia and Crimea that Moscow seized in 2014.
Zelenskyy stated that 100,000 civilians still live in the city, which had 430,000 inhabitants before the war. Many attempts to provide food and other supplies for those who are trapped have failed.
Zelenskyy claimed that Russian forces had taken a convoy of humanitarian workers. Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the Russians had taken 11 bus drivers and four rescue workers hostage along with their vehicles.
Officials at Mariupol stated that 2,300 people had been killed in their last update. But the real death toll is likely much higher. In the last week, airstrikes destroyed a theater and an art academy where civilians were sheltering.
Russian forces destroyed and bombed a bridge in Chernihiv’s northern city, Viacheslav Chaus stated.
KaterynaMytkevich, who fled Chernihiv and arrived in Poland, wept as she described what she saw. Mytkevich, 39 said that the city was without running water, electricity, or gas. Whole neighborhoods were destroyed.
She said, “I don’t understand why we have such curse.”
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, claimed that the military operation is “strictly in line” with plans, despite ample evidence.
Zelenskyy, who stated that approximately 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in action on March 12, gave the most recent figures for Ukraine’s military loss.
According to NATO officials, between 30,000 and 40,000 Russian soldiers were killed or injured.
Russia has not released any information about its casualties. It stated March 2 that almost 500 soldiers were killed and nearly 1,600 others were wounded.
Ukraine claims that it has killed six Russian generals. Russia only acknowledges one general as dead.
These figures are NATO’s first public estimate for Russian casualties since the start of the war. The U.S. government has declined to estimate casualties in Ukraine or Russia, citing a lack of reliable information.
Russia must work to suppress dissent, and boost morale as the casualties mount.
It has detained thousands of antiwar protesters, and cracked down on media. A law was passed Wednesday that provides the same benefits to troops in Ukraine as veterans of other wars. This includes tax breaks, discounted utilities, and preferential access for medical treatment.
Peskov said that Anatoly Chubais resigned in apparent sign of increasing divisions within Russia’s top echelons. Over three decades, Chubais was the architect of Russia’s post-Soviet privatization campaigns. His most recent role was that of Putin’s envoy for international organizations.
Peskov wouldn’t say if Chubais left the country.
According to Western officials, Putin’s forces face serious food, fuel, and cold weather gear shortages. Soldiers are suffering frostbite while the defenders in Ukraine have been more aggressive.
Many Western experts warn against trusting Ukraine’s future prospects because of Russia’s much stronger and more powerful military. In past wars, the Kremlin has used flattening cities to crush resistance and killing many civilians. Then it sent millions fleeing.
Video continues to show that talks are continuing to end the fighting. Zelenskyy stated that negotiations with Russia are progressing “step by step”, but they are moving forward.
Those who are not ready to fight for peace cannot make it happen.
Zakhar Sluzhalyy (operator of a gun shop in Lviv’s western city) said, “Everything’s bestseller these days.”
“We’re defending our land,” he said. “We are fighting for our freedom, and the freedom of the rest of Europe.”
