British Intel: Russia’s forces in Ukraine now bigger than pre-war levels

Russian forces in Ukraine are now larger in number than at the start of the war in February 2022, despite suffering heavy losses over the past two years, the UK Defense Ministry reported on 24 February. According to the British intel, confirmed Russian losses include over 2,700 tanks and 5,000 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. “Russia's killed and wounded are likely approximately 350,000 personnel," the UK intel report said. However, through mobilization, recruitment, production, and refurbishment of existing stockpiles, Russia has been able to replace its losses.

"It is now able to maintain attacks along the front line and pursue a strategy of attrition against Ukrainian forces," the UK intelligence report said.

The British Defense Ministry reported that Russia deployed approximately 130 Battalion Tactical Groups for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia's original invasion force included approximately 1,300 tanks, over 5,000 infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and at least 100,000 personnel.

"In two years of the war in Ukraine, Russian losses match - and in many cases surpass - those that comprised its original force," the British intel said.

President Zelenskyy said in an interview with Fox News on 22 February that Ukraine has lost "tens of thousands" of its soldiers, but spinning the losses as fewer than Russia has suffered.

“Russia loses five soldiers for every one Ukrainian soldier killed,” Zelenskyy said.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff of Armed Forces, Russia has lost over Russia lost 409,000 personnel, 6,534 tanks, and 9,952 artillery pieces as of 24 February 2024 Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russia paid with more military lives than the Soviet Union did in 10 years of war in Afghanistan capturing Avdiivka, the city in Donetsk Oblast. Russian Forces occupied the eastern key city of Avdiivka on 17 February, when the Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, decided to withdraw Ukrainian units from Avdiivka. According to the commander of the operational and strategic grouping of troops Tavria, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the Russian army has lost almost 50,000 soldiers and over 1,300 units of military equipment during the active phase of fighting for Avdiivka since 10 October 2023. Read also:

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• Russia pays heavy toll in Avdiivka, more than USSR in 10 years in Afghanistan, says Kuleba