Kyiv (Times Of Ocean)- NATO reported on Wednesday that it estimates 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of Ukraine war, where fierce fighting by the country’s fast-moving defenders has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought.
The official cites data from Ukrainian authorities, information Russia has released, and information from open sources; 30,000-40,000 are believed dead or wounded.
In Afghanistan, Russia lost about 15,000 troops over 10 years.
According to a senior NATO official, the alliance’s estimate is based on information from Ukrainian authorities, what Russia has released – intentionally or not – and intelligence gathered from open sources. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under NATO rules.
In Europe’s largest offensive since World War II, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. A swift overthrow of Ukraine’s government appeared likely. As Wednesday marks the end of four consecutive weeks of fighting, Moscow is bogged down in a grinding military campaign.
Since ground forces have been slowed or stopped by hit-and-run Ukrainian units armed with Western-supplied weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops are bombarding targets from afar, reverting to the tactics they used to destroy cities in Syria and Chechnya.
President Joe Biden warned there is a “real threat” that Russia could use chemical weapons as he left for Europe to meet with key allies about new sanctions against Moscow and more military aid to Ukraine.