London (Parliament Politics Magzine) – Russia has experienced its worst-ever month for losses since the start of the war in Ukraine, the UK chief of defence staff has said.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin expressed Russia’s forces suffered an average of nearly 1,500 dead and injured “every single day” in October, bringing its casualties to 700,000 since the war started in February 2022. Russia does not reveal the number of its war dead, but Western defence officials have expressed October’s death toll was the heaviest so far.
How are Russia’s heavy losses impacting its strategy?
In a discussion with BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sir Tony expressed the Russian people were spending an “extraordinary price” for Putin’s invasion.
“Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or injured – the enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to endure because of Putin’s ambition,”
said Sir Tony. He stated the losses were
“for tiny increments of land. There is no suspicion that Russia is making tactical, territorial improvements and that is putting strain on Ukraine,”
he said.
Moreover, he added that Russia is paying more than 40% of its public expenditure on defence and security, which he stated was “an enormous drain” on the country. While partners of US President-elect Donald Trump press that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have to cede territory to bring the battle to an end, Sir Tony demanded that Western allies would be resolute for
“as long as it takes. That’s the message President Putin has to absorb and the reassurance for President Zelensky.”
How might Trump’s plans for Ukraine differ from Biden’s?
On the other hand, Trump has consistently stated his priority is to end the war and control what he characterises as a drain on US resources, in the shape of military aid and financial support to Ukraine. But he has yet to reveal how he intends to do so – and will likely be hearing contesting visions for Ukraine’s future from his diverse advisers. Earlier this week, Putin complimented Trump on his election victory and expressed that Trump’s claim that he can help end the war in Ukraine “deserves attention at least”.
Trump’s Democratic rivals have blamed him for cosying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin and say his strategy to the war amounts to surrender for Ukraine that will jeopardise all of Europe.