US intelligence estimates that 20,000 Russian fighters have been killed in Ukraine since December, and another 80,000 wounded in action, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
“Just since December, we estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties , including over 20,000 killed in action,” John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said during a news briefing.
He said half of the dead belonged to Russia’s private Wagner military group, and were mostly former prisoners thrown into the fighting in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, without sufficient training or military command.
The conclusion is that Russia’s offensive has backfired, John Kirby said.
He declined to comment on the casualties suffered by Ukraine, which is backed by a US-led Western coalition, arguing that it was up up to Kyiv to talk about it or not. He added that he would never make anything public that makes it difficult for the Ukrainians. “They are the victims, Russia is the aggressor,” he explained.
Most of the fighting in Ukraine in recent weeks has centred on the eastern Donbass region, particularly the town of Bakhmut.
The Russians have been gradually advancing into the largely destroyed industrial city. They claim they control about 80% of it.
