Russia Suffers Staggering Losses in Ukraine Invasion
The United States has recently declassified intelligence that reveals the staggering losses Russia has suffered as a result of its nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine. According to the assessment, more than 13,000 Russian forces have been killed or wounded since Moscow launched its October offensive along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in eastern Ukraine. In addition, Ukraine’s military has destroyed or immobilized more than 220 Russian combat vehicles, the equivalent of six battalions’ worth of vehicles.
The National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told VOA in a statement that “Russia’s attempt at an offensive has resulted in no strategic gains” and that the Russian losses have been “severe.” However, she added that “Russia is determined to press forward” and believes that a military deadlock through the winter will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage.
The decision to declassify the intelligence comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, visiting with U.S. lawmakers and with U.S. President Joe Biden. During a speech at the National Defense University in Washington on Monday, Zelenskyy pleaded with U.S. lawmakers “not to betray” Ukraine’s forces and provide more weapons and support, warning Moscow sees Ukraine as “just a stepping-stone.”
The White House has been pushing U.S. lawmakers to approve more than $61 billion in supplemental funding for Kyiv before the end of the year. However, some lawmakers have balked, with some Republicans insisting any deal to provide more money to Ukraine must also include provisions to strengthen U.S. immigration policies and security along the U.S. southern border with Mexico.
In response, White House officials have pointed to the latest declassified intelligence to argue that funding for Ukraine simply cannot wait. A senior administration official told VOA that “this shows how Ukraine is having success stopping Russian forces, but Putin is continuing to order his troops forward” and that “it’s critical we continue to support Ukraine and make sure they have what they need to defend themselves.”
Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have previously said Russia’s losses in Ukraine have set its military back by as much as five to ten years. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Monday that a failure to back Ukraine will send Russian President Vladimir Putin the wrong message. “If we do not stand up to the Kremlin’s aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos,” he said.
The United States must continue to support Ukraine and provide the necessary resources to ensure that the country can defend itself against Russian aggression. The recent declassified intelligence reveals the devastating losses Russia has suffered as a result of its invasion of Ukraine, and it is clear that the United States must do everything it can to ensure that Ukraine is not left to fend for itself. The United States must stand up to Putin’s aggression and send a clear message that it will not tolerate any further attempts to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
