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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russian soldiers dying at highest rate since beginning of war: UK gov
2023-02-13
[NYPOST] Russia’s army is currently losing soldiers at the highest rate since the first week of the war almost a year ago — with a remarkable 824 troops dying each day, UK officials say.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense made the stunning claim Sunday, citing Ukrainian General Staff updates, but said it could not verify Ukraine’s methodology.

"The trends the data illustrate are likely accurate," the Ministry said.

At rate of 824 deaths per day is about four times higher than the mean in June-July 2022, the UK government said.

"Ukraine also continued to suffer a high attrition rate," the Defense Intelligence update stated without providing specific numbers. "The uptick in Russian casualties is likely due to a range of factors including lack of trained personnel, coordination and resources across the front — this is exemplified in Vuhledar and Bakhmut."

Ukraine’s Armed Forces on Saturday said some of the fiercest battles are being fought in the city of Vuhledar, in the besieged Donetsk region.

Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said Sunday it had taken Krasna Hora, on the north edge of Bakhmut, which Ukraine insisted the previous day it continues to hold while attempting to "stabilize" the towns around it.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio wondered: Where the hell was Chumbaloni? And where was his $600?...
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Saturday said peace talks with Russia won’t happen after the Kremlin’s latest bombings, which Ukraine said included at least 100 missiles launched Friday.

"In periodic ’peace and talks’ rhetoric the Kremlin says it won’t leave the [Ukraine] territories & won’t be responsible for crimes," Podolyak tweeted. "It’s another proof that talks are out of the question. Only [Ukraine] victory, otherwise the war in Europa
...the land mass occupying the space between the English Channel and the Urals, also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
won’t end, and [Russia] will criminally dominate the world."
Posted by:Fred

#15  I also heard from the UK government that Putin was waiting for a chance to change his appearance and run off to Canada!





Basically everything is going great then and nobody needs to send anything more, right?
Posted by: Dron66046   2023-02-13 19:19  

#14  ^ This, LG.
Posted by: Frank G   2023-02-13 18:44  

#13  the value of Bakhmut is symbolic

in 2014 the Russian backed/supported separatists took this city but were ousted by the Ukrainians

If I were the Ukrainian strategist I would not contest this at the cost of deploying 10 brigades.

and, of course if I were a Russian strategist I would probably advise withdrawal and be shot or sent to Siberia
Posted by: lord garth   2023-02-13 16:53  

#12  A squad of the Ukrainian State Border Guards SOF infiltrated a Wagner Base in the East (near Bakhmut). They waited for the invaders to relax. Then 6 with NVG and silencers killed 20 wagnerites, wounded 19, and three captured for interrogation as well.
Posted by: Thruter Gloluger6393   2023-02-13 16:33  

#11  You got nothing Dale. You know your side is taking horrendous casualties in the Great Russian Tradition. Mossimo is right in one aspect. Bakhmut holds no special value to Ukraine, except that the Russians are willing to destroy their army for it. That makes it extremely valuable for Ukraine when they can inflict 5:1 or more casualty ratios (soldiers on the line claiming 10+:1 is not uncommon) made worse by the fact Wagner takes little care of their wounded, leaving most of them to die on the battlefield.

Every Russian casualty now is 1:3 Ukrainian casualties avoided when Ukraine goes on the offensive.

So go back to Montana Colorado, raise rabbits and have your round wife cook them for you.
Posted by: Thruter Gloluger6393   2023-02-13 16:21  

#10  I would suggest ACA JOE could enlighten you. I however see no educational value offered.
Posted by: Dale   2023-02-13 15:54  

#9  ^ Well bottom feeders always wine and moan when anything contrary to their programing is in conflict.
Posted by: Dale   2023-02-13 15:50  

#8  Jealous.
Posted by: Thruter Gloluger6393   2023-02-13 15:00  

#7  ^ Or add Thruter to your list of sources. Win-win!
Posted by: Javish Lumplump7499   2023-02-13 14:52  

#6  Dale, your credibility has long been shot and buried in a shallow grave. Take the loss and walk home.
Posted by: Thruter Gloluger6393   2023-02-13 14:34  

#5  If you believe this I have ocean front property in Colorado.
Posted by: Dale   2023-02-13 14:31  

#4  What makes you believe casualties ratios are 1:1? Especially when the Ukrainians are defending against human wave attacks?
Posted by: Thruter Gloluger6393   2023-02-13 13:25  

#3  Is the narrative still that the Russian casualty rate at Bakhmut Meat Grinder is unsustainable for RUS while a similar Ukrainian casualty rate is sustainable for UKR?

And Does Bakhmut represent how little Ukraine values its people, its human capital?

Surely Ukraine must value it citizens less if they are haphazardly sending them to their death defending a city with little value. So I must conclude ukrianian lives have less value than the little strategic value it costs to hold the city.
Posted by: mossomo   2023-02-13 12:54  

#2  "Ukraine also continued to suffer a high attrition rate," the Defense Intelligence update stated without providing specific numbers.

"In other news, today's sports scores are 7, 3, and 21."
Yeah, it is an old joke, but it is a bit tough to draw conclusions from the numbers without knowing the Ukr side.

As for Bakhmut, that city of little strategic importance, unless the Ukrainians pull back to preserve their army, it will be a replay of Mariupol. Supply lines will be cut, the city encircled and then pounded to heck with artillery until the defenders are dead or surrendered. Unless the Russians are in a hurry for some reason, they will not try to take Bakhmut all at once.
Posted by: SteveS   2023-02-13 10:24  

#1  Battle for Bakhmut likely going to cost 30k+ lives _Uk + Russia

Bloodiest European battle since WWII

and for a city with little strategic value
Posted by: lord garth   2023-02-13 05:25  

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