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The 'stunning' scale of Russian deaths in Ukraine signals trouble ahead for Putin
NBC News ^ | May 2, 2023 | Alexander Smith

Posted on 05/24/2023 7:09:27 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Russia’s winter push in Ukraine may have made little progress and at a “stunning” cost.

More than 100,000 fighters from the Kremlin’s forces have been killed or wounded since December alone, the U.S. now estimates — outlining Moscow's massive losses as its military leaders scramble to recruit more men and prepare for an impending counteroffensive.

The figure, if accurate, could spell trouble ahead for President Vladimir Putin. He faces a second year at war with the land he seized increasingly in Kyiv's sights and with his military's struggles forcing the Kremlin to balance battlefield necessities with domestic pressures.

The casualty figure includes around 20,000 Russians who have been killed in about six months, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday, citing newly declassified American intelligence that the Kremlin swiftly rejected.

For comparison, around 4,500 American troops were killed during the invasion of Iraq.

"It's really stunning, these numbers," Kirby said.

Half of those killed were from the Wagner mercenary group, the majority of whom were ex-convicts “thrown into combat” in Bakhmut, Kirby said, who lacked “sufficient combat training, combat leadership or any sense of organizational command and control.”

The eastern mining city has turned into something of a modern day Stalingrad and became the focus of a Russian winter offensive that was fueled by the call-up of hundreds of thousands of military reservists but that has failed to make substantive progress.

Both sides have suffered heavy losses in and around the city, with their armies bogged down in a brutal battle of attrition that has seen Russian troops make steady incremental gains but fall short of what would be a symbolic victory.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Russia; Ukraine
KEYWORDS: alexandersmith
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1 posted on 05/24/2023 7:09:27 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Of course the Ukes got out with only a skinned knee.


2 posted on 05/24/2023 7:12:03 PM PDT by Fido969 (45 is Superman! )
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To: MinorityRepublican

NBC.

I thought they were out of business. Bots only.

If they mention the Biden criminal actions we’ll know it is still real people.


3 posted on 05/24/2023 7:14:04 PM PDT by KC Burke (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity is not another way to spell GOD but it is a way to spell DIE.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
It is remarkable. 30,000 Wagners fought at Bakhmut, yet 75,000 of them died there.

4 posted on 05/24/2023 7:14:07 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: MinorityRepublican

I seem to remember hearing this before.

Along with no ammo and 1960s tanks.


5 posted on 05/24/2023 7:14:49 PM PDT by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: Fido969

“Of course the Ukes got out with only a skinned knee.”

I wonder if their next story will be about Hitler’s Grandson still holding out in Berlin.


6 posted on 05/24/2023 7:15:14 PM PDT by BobL
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To: Right_Wing_Madman

They kept respawning...


7 posted on 05/24/2023 7:15:51 PM PDT by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Fake, like everything else coming from these sources/sphincters.


8 posted on 05/24/2023 7:31:17 PM PDT by Trumpisourlastchance
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To: MinorityRepublican

How long have we been hearing these doom-and-gloom predictions? Do the propagandists ever move on to something believable?


9 posted on 05/24/2023 7:31:53 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: 2banana
They kept respawning...

Wagner convict troops are just like ISIS jihadists.

10 posted on 05/24/2023 7:31:57 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican
For comparison, the Russians lost 81,116 killed and missing in the Battle of Berlin.

“I mean, you take your average Russki, we all know how much guts he's got. Hell, lookit all them Nazis killed off and they still wouldn't quit.” - General "Buck" Turgidson (Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

11 posted on 05/24/2023 7:32:09 PM PDT by Sooth2222 (“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite.” /"Every nation has the government it deserves.” )
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To: Fido969

20 million russkies gave their lives in defense of their homeland from the nazi’s of the 1940’s. And the people remember it & celebrate their heroes.

100k, a likely gross exaggeration, hardly dips into the well. Ukes running around with nazi symbols on their uniforms & driving Panzers doesn’t help them, either.


12 posted on 05/24/2023 7:33:22 PM PDT by TonyinLA (I don't have sufficient information to formulate an reasoned opinion said no lefty ever.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
They would be stunning numbers - if the source was reliable.
13 posted on 05/24/2023 7:40:28 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: MinorityRepublican

Day 454 of two weeks to kick Ukraine’s ass. Did Pootin have something to do with COVID response?


14 posted on 05/24/2023 7:42:16 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

NBC, quoting Kirby, passing on information from Ukraine. Man, it just doesn’t get any more rocksolid than that lol.


15 posted on 05/24/2023 7:43:52 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
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To: Fido969
Of course the Ukes got out with only a skinned knee.

Typical.

It's like, but they suffered too!

Guess what? The topic is about the incredible number of casualties that Russia suffered at the hands of a smaller military, where the Russians were also much better equipped for the fight.

But, hey , Zelensky bad, Putin good. Ukraine bad, Russia good.
16 posted on 05/24/2023 7:44:23 PM PDT by adorno
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To: Fido969

51 “ intelligence “ sources leaked this narrative to NBC.


17 posted on 05/24/2023 7:44:57 PM PDT by BrexitBen
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To: MinorityRepublican

Donald Trump:

“I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying,” Trump said at CNN’s town hall moderated by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins.

…he doesn’t “think in terms of winning and losing.”

“I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people,” he said.


18 posted on 05/24/2023 7:48:44 PM PDT by Allegra (Free Kiryandil! )
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To: MinorityRepublican

Donald Trump:

“I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying,” Trump said at CNN’s town hall moderated by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins.

…he doesn’t “think in terms of winning and losing.”

“I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people,” he said.


19 posted on 05/24/2023 7:48:44 PM PDT by Allegra (Free Kiryandil! )
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To: TonyinLA
100k, a likely gross exaggeration, hardly dips into the well. Ukes running around with nazi symbols on their uniforms & driving Panzers doesn’t help them, either.

Sounds like you were in the font-lines, observing and reporting on everything that went on.

Did you happen to see Zelensky anywhere near the battle? Did you see how mean the Ukies were to the benevolent invaders from Russia?

Putin awaits your next report, but you can share it with us too. BTW, do you have a video of all that you saw over there?
20 posted on 05/24/2023 7:51:34 PM PDT by adorno
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