Russian casualties in Ukraine up to 80,000: Pentagon

Destroyed tanks and civilian vehicles that were caught in heavy fighting are gathered in a lot in Mariupol, Mariupol, on the territory which is under the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic control, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. (AP)
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  • Kahl admitted that the Ukraine side also had significant losses of manpower on the battlefield, but gave no figures

WASHINGTON: A senior Pentagon official estimated Monday that as many as 80,000 Russians have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the war began in late February
鈥淭he Russians have probably taken 70 or 80,000 casualties in less than six months,鈥� Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said.
Kahl also said Russian forces have also lost 鈥渢hree or four thousand鈥� armored vehicles, and could be running low on available precision-guided missiles, including air and sea-launched cruise missiles, after firing a large number on Ukraine targets since launching the invasion on February 24.
Those losses are 鈥減retty remarkable considering the Russians have achieved none of Vladimir Putin鈥檚 objectives at the beginning of the war,鈥� he told reporters, referring to the Russian president.
He said the slowdown in Russian forces鈥� use of longer range and precision guided missiles was an indicator that their supplies had fallen close to what Moscow needed to hold in reserve for 鈥渙ther contingencies.鈥�
Kahl admitted that the Ukraine side also had significant losses of manpower on the battlefield, but gave no figures.
鈥淏oth sides are taking casualties. The war is the most intense conventional conflict in Europe since the Second World War,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut the Ukrainians have a lot of advantages, not the least of which is their will to fight.鈥�