White House says Russian casualties 'stunning'

[jgo]

Source: The Hill

The Biden administration estimates that since December, Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties, including more than 20,000 killed.

Among those killed, nearly half were believed to be soldiers from the private military company Wagner Group, which is heavily involved in the grinding fight for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

“Russia has exhausted its military stockpiles and its armed forces,” Kirby told reporters. “Just since December, we estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties, including over 20,000 killed in action. . . . It’s really stunning, these numbers.”

He would not give the estimated number of Ukrainian casualties, deferring to Kyiv for that information.


Read more: https://thehill.com/newsletters/defense-national-security/3982521-white-house-says-russian-casualties-stunning/

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. That number is surely too low

Most independent source put Russian deaths at closer to 100,000.

[keopeli]

2. 20,000 just since Dec., in just 5 months. Still, you're right, it's likely an undercount.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Oh, OK- I thought they said 20,000 for the entire war. Nt

[Lovie777]

3. I think this is from December 2022...............

and yes the Russian deaths are over 100,000 since Feb. 2022.

[Grins]

16. "Casualties" are not just deaths.

It also includes those wounded and maimed.

Often, depending on the Army, you can expect 4-5 wounded per death; so that 100,000 number may be correct - if the 20,000 number is also correct.

But if the 100,000 deaths number is correct, that means 400,000 to 500,000 wounded = 500,000 to 600,000 ‘casualties’. That number of carnage would not go unnoticed - even in Russia.

[bluedigger]

18. Your ratios are probably correct for Western armies, but Russia's numbers are probably much lower.

I wouldn't be surprised if Russian casualties run more like 2 wounded for every KIA. Not a lot of Russian medevac activity out of Bakhmut.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Ukrainian numbers probably don't look great either.

[Marthe48]

6. Unfortunately russia doesn't care if they kill soldiers or civilians

One Ukrainian death because of russia's illegal invasion of a sovereign nation is a death too many, whether is is a civilian in a bombed apartment building or a soldier defending his country. (mad at russia, not your comment!)

[Irish_Dem]

7. All Ukrainians are enemy combatants in Putin's mind.

He thinks if he rapes and murders enough women and children Ukraine will surrender.

Yes it makes me very mad too.

[Marthe48]

9. russian soldiers have always acted brutal

Even if you take ignore propaganda from our allies, the bare bones reports are horrifying.

[Irish_Dem]

10. I know. And the RU soldiers are treated badly by higher ranks.

All of it is horrific.

How sick are they to rape children.

[Firestorm49]

8. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but from what I've read,

so has Ukraine.

[wnylib]

11. Well, Debbie, that's usually what happens in war.

People on both sides get killed. But when the aggressor suffers high numbers of casualties, it indicates that the aggressive invasion is not succeeding as well as expected.

[Kaleva]

13. To a lesser extent

UKR has managed to build up a sizeable force in preparation for the expected counter offensive. RU on the other hand is struggling to throw everything it can gather in an attempt to take Bakhmut.

[TomCADem]

21. Big Difference is Ukraine Has No Choice...

…unless they are willing to be erased out of existence as a sovereign nation. In contrast, Russia’s casualties are due to Putin’s efforts to try to expand Russia’s borders.

[musclecar6]

14. Just

Another megalomaniac psychopath wreaking havoc, that Donny is determined to be just like.

[TomSlick]

15. That has always been the way Russia conducts a war.

From the time of the Czars, the Russian military has treated its personnel as expendable - and easily replaced. There is no limit to the number of soldiers Putin is willing to sacrifice for his dreams of restoring the Soviet empire.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

17. Yep.

I have been listening to eastern front diaries. 100000 is the cost of business for the Russian leaders. They had 15 year Olds running lathes exposed to the elements for years.

[marble falls]

19. When one considers the political cost of 50,000 US dead in eight years of Viet Nam, with ...

... with around 20,000 Russian dead in less than a year and a half in a nation with around 60% of the population of the US, one might expect a much larger political unrest for Putin to deal with.

[Mysterian]

20. How long can this continue?

Before the Russian people open their eyes, see through the lies, find their courage and end the murderous Putin regime?