Moscow confirms dead general
London estimates the number of Russian victims at 320,000
December 4, 2023, 1:47 p.m
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The number of Russian soldiers killed and wounded in the Ukraine War is a great mystery. Estimates vary widely. Current figures from London are comparatively moderate. Nevertheless, a high five-digit number is mentioned for dead soldiers alone.
According to British estimates, around 70,000 Russians have been killed in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense said there were 50,000 regular soldiers and 20,000 members of the Wagner private army. Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has now been killed, once put the number of mercenaries killed in the fighting for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine at 20,000. The number of wounded between the start of the war on February 24, 2022 and the end of November 2023 is estimated in London at 180,000 to 240,000 soldiers and 40,000 Wagner fighters.
“This gives an estimated range of 290,000 to 350,000 total Russian combatant casualties. The midpoint of the estimate is 320,000 total Russian casualties,” it continued. Exact information is difficult. Even in Russia, the total number of dead and wounded is probably not known because there is an established culture of dishonest reporting within the military. The authority did not provide any information about Ukrainian losses.
The Ukrainian military has reported the number of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine already with more than 330,000. The numbers cannot be verified either, but are estimated to be massively inflated. The same applies to the numbers of destroyed Russian military equipment. The information on this is from independent Dutch portal Oryx is much more valid. Ukraine is also reluctant to provide information about its own soldiers killed and wounded.
Russia confirms death of senior officer
According to NATO estimates at the end of November, the number of Russian soldiers killed or wounded has exceeded 300,000. In the summer, the New York Times, citing US government officials, reported 120,000 Russian soldiers killed and 170,000 to 180,000 wounded. It was assumed that around 70,000 soldiers would be killed and 100,000 to 120,000 injured in Ukraine.
However, there is currently an official confirmation of a death by the Russian military leadership. “The deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet, Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, died during combat operations in the area of special military operations,” said Voronezh Region Governor Alexander Gusev. on his Telegram channel.
Ukrainian media had already reported on the death of the senior officer last week. In the condolence letter, Gusev spoke of a “serious loss.” The general led the Kantemirov 4th Guards Tank Division until August 2021, with which the Voronezh region traditionally has good relations.
Sawadski was therefore 45 years old. Before the obituary for Zawadski, the Russian military had confirmed the deaths of a total of six generals in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian information, however, at least twelve Russian generals died in the war of aggression unleashed by Moscow.