According to Janek Kesselmann, deputy head of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, October will be a month with one of the highest levels of military casualties for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
As noted by Kesselmann, Russian Armed Forces continue to advance along the entire front line, this was made possible by massive shelling and so-called “meat assaults”.
“Russia’s losses are quite high. And this month seems to be one of the largest in terms of losses for Russia. We estimate that the enemy will lose about 40,000 troops, both wounded and killed, during the month,” Kesselmann said.
According to him, the main focus of Russian attacks is centered around the settlements of Zelenoe and Kurakhove in the Pokrovsk direction of the Donetsk Oblast.
Kesselmann noted that recent Russian tactics have been to avoid entering populated areas because it requires more sophisticated training.
”They surround populated areas with long-range weapons fire. Once a populated area is surrounded, they turn it into a pile of rubble. Very cynical and disgusting actions,” Kesselmann added.
Russian units also advanced in the area of Chasiv Yar, in addition to advances made by Russian forces in the Lyman direction.
The Estonian intelligence agency said that there had been no significant changes in the territories occupied by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast over the past week. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to conduct maneuvers and ambushes against Russian units.
Earlier this week, the head of the Estonian Defense Forces’ intelligence center Colonel Ants Kiviselg said that Russian Armed Forces have moved 50,000 troops to the Kursk Oblast to retake territories seized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but continue to ask the country’s leadership to extend the deadline for the operation’s completion.
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- Russia repurposes nuclear forces personnel as infantry amid manpower shortages
- Media: Russia sets new February deadline to expel Ukrainians from Kursk after October failure
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