The White House estimated Monday that the Russian military has suffered 100,000 casualties in the past five months in fighting against Ukraine in the Bakhmut region.
He White House Homeland Security spokesman John Kirbytold the press that the figure, based on estimates by US intelligence services, included more than 20,000 deaths, half of them from the Wagner mercenary group, which includes convicts released from prison to join the fighting.
“Russia’s attempt at a Donbass offensive largely through Bakhmut has failed,” Kirby said. “Russia has been unable to seize any real strategic and significant territory.”
The Russians have made some incremental gains in Bakhmut, he said, but at “terrible, terrible cost,” adding that Ukraine’s defenses in the region remain strong.
“Russia has exhausted its military arsenals and armed forces and since December alone we estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties, including more than 20,000 killed in combat, almost half of whom were Wagner soldiers,” he said.
“Those numbers are really impressive,” Kirby added, saying the total is three times the number of American casualties in the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II.
Kirby noted that another US arms package for Ukraine would be announced soon.
Prepared with information from Reuters
Source: Gestion
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