The war in Ukraine has been a tough battle for Russia, with major losses piling up. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently made some striking comments about the current state of Russia’s military. According to Austin, Russia has faced huge losses in its war against Ukraine, so much so that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been forced to take drastic measures — even calling on troops from North Korea. Yes, you read that right!
Austin shared some eye-opening stats, highlighting that since 2022, Russia has lost over 700,000 military personnel. This includes both soldiers killed and wounded. To put things into perspective, Austin explained that Russia has lost more than two-thirds of its military strength since the war began. In just November 2024, Russia was losing almost 1,500 soldiers every single day.
But the situation is getting worse for Russia. Austin pointed out that the country is struggling to replace these casualties, which has led them to make some desperate moves. Moscow has started pulling soldiers from prisons and pressuring contract soldiers into service. In an even more alarming development, Russian forces have turned to North Korea, bringing in troops from there to fight a war they have no part in. Since joining the conflict in December, these North Korean soldiers have faced heavy losses, with over 1,000 casualties reported.
The news paints a grim picture for Russia’s military, and experts are predicting that these numbers could keep climbing. UK intelligence has already reported 2024 as a record year for Russian casualties, with December marking the deadliest month. According to Ukrainian sources, Russia’s losses have now exceeded 803,000 military personnel.
For comparison, Ukraine has also suffered heavy losses, with President Zelenskyy announcing in December that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, and over 370,000 have been wounded. But despite the high toll on both sides, it’s clear that Russia is facing an uphill battle, and Putin’s desperation is showing.
As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen just how much more strain Russia can endure.
