Estimate from the Chief of Staff of the US Armed Forces: According to Mark Milley, Russia has already lost about 100,000 people killed and wounded. “Perhaps the same is true on the Ukrainian side,” the general said of casualties on both sides after Russia’s more than eight-month-long invasion of Ukraine.
On the ground, the withdrawal from the western bank of the Dnieper, in the Kherson region, announced the day before, was accompanied by the advance of Ukrainian lines for kilometers, which recaptured more than 40 settlements. In the east, the Russians continue to bet on the capture of Bakhmut, while in Moscow the decision to withdraw was praised by politicians and observers, some of whom did not spare the loss of Kharkov.
While the Armed Forces of Ukraine indicate the loss of 79,500 enemy soldiers, the US estimates that the losses are more than 100,000 people. But just as Moscow hides its dead and wounded — fewer than 6,000, it said in September — Kyiv does not reveal them either. The last time, in August, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny acknowledged the death of “9,000 heroes”, and now Washington is multiplying this number by 11.
The casualty figures, to which 40,000 civilians were killed, also according to the US, help to understand the scale of the war at a time when Russia is unable to hide its weaknesses and is forced to leave the city of Kherson and the entire area of the district of the same name on the western bank of the Dnieper.
Russians mock Putin’s system. If they praise the departure, then they are for the fragmentation of the country; if they oppose it, they will discredit the army.
Considering that in September Vladimir Putin declared the city and region Russian in an annexation without international recognition following bogus referendums, one cannot fail to see a setback for the Russian regime. Proof of Moscow’s discomfort, to say the least, is a meme shared by Russians that summarizes the situation. To the question “Do you support the departure of Kherson?” accompanied by two arrows. If a citizen thinks so, he goes against article 280.1 of the Criminal Code, which punishes any public calls for the fragmentation of the territory of Russia with imprisonment. If you believe that discrediting the army does not violate article 280.3, correspondent account Country in the Russian capital.
TV presenter Andrey Norkin also used this example of Russian law to show how citizens are losing their basic freedoms and guarantees. “I don’t want to go to jail,” he said in conclusion for lack of an opinion.
However, others were not afraid and spoke highly of the Russian withdrawal. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin, or deputy Andrey Krasov did not spare the commander of forces in Kharkov when Russia was surprised two months ago to see its lines crumble one after another, hastening the announcement of military mobilization and the use of soldiers without training or proper gear to try and stop losses. Now the tone was different.
“It is necessary to conduct defensive battles, regroup our forces and wait for the readiness of our mobilized forces for battle. Russia will fulfill its historic mission, and we will liberate Ukraine from Nazism,” Krasov said, supporting the idea that Moscow would not let Kherson go up.
Ukrainian authorities remain wary of Russia’s plans. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said Moscow wanted to turn Kherson into a “city of death” by blowing up “apartments, sewers” and shelling the eastern bank with artillery fire in order to “turn the city into ruins.”
Spanish help
As a result of Ukraine’s calls to beef up its defenses, Spain has announced the deployment of two more HAWK air defense systems in addition to the four it has already delivered to Kyiv. Earlier this month, the Spanish government said it would respond to the call with missile defense and air defense systems. “We are firmly committed to Ukraine because we understand that it is exercising its legitimate right to self-defense,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.
In addition, the Spanish army is training Ukrainian soldiers in explosives disposal and mine clearance in Toledo, while others are being trained in Almería to operate howitzers and Aspide SAM systems. Madrid has also pledged to train about 400 Ukrainian soldiers every two months.
Hawk systems will be reinforced with US missiles. According to details provided by the Biden administration for the latest $400 million aid package, in addition to missiles for the systems provided by Madrid, Washington will send four Avenger air defense systems and more ammunition for the HIMARS launcher. The UK also announced the shipment of 1,000 anti-aircraft missile systems to Kyiv.
