According to a White House official, more than 20,000 Russian troops have perished and 80,000 have been injured in the five months of conflict in Ukraine.
According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, “We estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties, including over 20,000 killed in action.”
About half of those killed, according to Kirby, were soldiers hired by the private military firm Wagner, which recruits a large portion of its ranks from Russian prison populations. Kirby claimed to be relying on recently declassified intelligence.
According to US statistics, the toll in Bakhmut, where Ukrainian soldiers are only holding onto a tiny area of the city, accounted for losses since the beginning of December.
After months of combat and significant casualties, Kirby concluded that Russia's offensive effort had failed.
Since “the victims” in this situation are the Ukrainians, Kirby claimed he was withholding estimates of their numbers. Russia is acting aggressively.
He said the close Western partner, whose army is being supplied and trained by a US-led coalition of nations, would not face “information in the public domain that makes it any harder” from the White House.
