Russia has lost a staggering 87 percent of the total number of active-duty ground troops it had prior to launching its invasion of Ukraine and two-thirds of its pre-invasion tanks, a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN.

Still, despite heavy losses of men and equipment, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to push forward as the war approaches its two-year anniversary early next year and US officials are warning that Ukraine remains deeply vulnerable. A highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive stagnated through the fall, and US officials believe that Kyiv is unlikely to make any major gains over the coming months.

The assessment, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday, comes as some Republicans have balked at the US providing additional funding for Ukraine and the Biden administration has launched a full-court press to try to get supplemental funding through Congress.

  • Redredme@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    So, if i must believe this, those 13% left in Ukraine are very capable, very effective troops, able to move over that gigantic front in minutes, seconds even to fill the gaps. They must have some kind of teleportation device. It must be possible, since startrek’s Chekov is Russian after all. He knows how it works.

    Or maybe these figures are just pulled out of someone’s ass. Like everything else in this war.

    • Longpork_afficianado@lemmy.nz
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      1 year ago

      Russia has recruited many more troops since then. The proper way to interpret this information is that the majority of troops currently deployed in Ukraine were conscripted after the start of the war.

    • jettrscga@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If 45,000 are left in Ukraine and Ukraine is approximately 400 miles wide, that’s still 112 Russian troops per linear mile to push west.

      Obviously they aren’t spaced in one line across the country like that, but it gives some perspective on how many are left and how much space they could fill.

      • Redredme@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Do really really believe that?

        If yes then

        A) the Russians must have some supertech to hold back the Ukrainian push of the last few months. Just 112 men per mile againsts those columns of Bradley’s and Leopards. Wow.

        Or

        B) the Ukrainians are truly shit fighters.

        I go for C). These figures which are spoon fed to us are bullshit.

        Just look at the numbers of the past year or so. If we believe them the Russian army is no more and has been defeated 6 months ago.

        But they aren’t. They’re still there.

        • fatzgebum@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          I think you should read the full article in order to really understand what these numbers mean and what they don’t mean.

    • mrnotoriousman@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      If you knew how to read it’s the number of active duty troops before they invaded. They have since conscripted more. And yes, that is still massive.

    • otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      There you have it, folks! The latest intel from the Russian front line!

      — Oh, I’m getting a report now. This. This is from the front… room… The front room at his nana’s house. Yeah, that checks out.