WASHINGTON – Russian forces have suffered “well over 100,000” casualties and endured an “enormous amount” of suffering since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine nearly 11 months ago, the U.S. top general said Friday.
“The variety of casualties in war is at all times suspect,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters in Germany. “But I would really like to let you know that the Russian victims, last time I informed publicly [in November] I said it was well over 100,000. I’d say it’s well over 100,000 now.”
Milley didn’t estimate Ukraine’s military losses, but suggested in November that Ukraine had lost about as much force as Russia.
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s armed forces released a tally stating that 116,950 Russian soldiers had been “eliminated”. If true, that will mean that more Russian forces died fighting in Ukraine than the variety of US forces that died from all causes during World War I.
Milley also predicted on Friday that Europe’s biggest conflict for the reason that Second World War will end in mediation as each side struggle to take care of labor losses.
“This can be a very, very bloody war with significant casualties on each side,” he said. “That is why I say I believe eventually it is going to have to come back to the negotiating table sooner or later to bring it to a conclusion.”
The final added, nevertheless, that it will occur only “when the ultimate state – which is a free, sovereign, independent Ukraine with intact territory.”
“When that day comes, people sit down and negotiate an end to it, but there may be tremendous suffering on each side.”
Despite Russia’s losses, Moscow is more likely to still have a force much like that of its original invasion force after Russian President Vladimir Putin began mass recruitment late last yr.
“The Russians called… [a] mobilization of 300,000 I believe they managed to get possibly 250,000 – something to that extent,” Milley said. “In order that they are replacing their losses in terms of manpower, but they’ve suffered huge losses.”
Senior US defense officials are predicting a brutal spring of fighting as Russia plans to resume its offensive after the war’s first anniversary on February 24.
Nevertheless, Milley believed that Ukraine would proceed to fight hard as Kyiv successfully launched several counter-offensives across the country.
“I don’t need to predict that anyway, but Ukrainian forces have to this point conducted no less than two – and possibly much more – very successful offensive operations,” he said. “One up around Kharkov… and on to the Russian lines east of Kharkov, after which that they had a really successful operation in Kherson.
The most recent $2.5 billion U.S. security aid package announced Thursday is meant to assist Ukraine fight an anticipated Russian offensive. It includes 90 Stryker and 59 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, in addition to National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems ammunition, eight Avenger Air Defense Systems, and various additional combat vehicles, missiles and ammunition.
With this aid, plus additional donations from allied countries – including the UK’s dispatch of 14 Challenger 2 most important battle tanks – Milley said he believes Ukraine will not be only prepared to repel Russian attacks but in addition to launch its own operations to retake Ukraine’s land now under Russian control.
“I believe it is vitally possible that the Ukrainians will perform a big offensive operation on a tactical and even operational level to liberate as much Ukrainian territory as possible,” he said.
“President Putin could end this war today – he began it, it is a war of his selection,” added Milley. “This is popping into an absolute disaster for Russia: massive amounts of casualties, numerous other damage to the Russian military, etc. So he should end this war at once, today.”