According to US calculations, about 15,000 Russian soldiers died in the war with Ukraine. “The latest US intelligence estimates are around 15,000 (Russian) soldiers dead and perhaps three times as many wounded. Such significant losses,” said CIA Director William Burns at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “And the Ukrainians also suffered – probably a little less. But, you know, significant losses.”
Russia keeps military deaths a state secret, even in peacetime, and has not consistently updated its official figures during the war. On March 25, it was said that 1,351 Russian soldiers had died. The government in Kyiv said in June that 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers are being killed in the fighting every day.
US promises more Himars missile launchers to Kyiv
The United States has promised additional Himar rocket launchers to Ukraine in support of the 148-day war against Russia. The leadership in Kyiv is grateful, but also urgently demands the delivery of air defense systems. A victory for his country against Russian attackers would protect all of Europe, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized in his video speech on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin announced the reconstruction of cities in Donbass that were destroyed in the first place by the war he ordered. Moscow repeatedly presents itself as the protective power of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine and justifies the attack on the neighboring country with the supposed protection of the people who live there, among other things.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has now confirmed that Russia is indeed much more than the Donbass: as expected, its threat to seize other areas was met with great anger in Kyiv.
US Government: More Multiple Rocket Launchers for Ukraine
The US government plans to supply Ukraine with four more Himars multi-rocket launchers. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during online consultations with the so-called Ukraine Contact Group of dozens of countries that the Himars missile launchers that have been delivered so far “have made a lot of difference on the battlefield”. The US would also provide additional weapons, ammunition and equipment, including missiles and artillery shells, as part of the next package for Ukraine. Details would be announced later in the week.
Austin told a news conference after the deliberations that there were “a lot of new announcements” from defense secretaries and army chiefs from the more than 50 participating countries. “We see countries around the world continue to provide urgently needed systems and munitions.” He wasn’t more specific.
The US is the main supplier of weapons to Ukraine. So far, according to US Chief of Staff Mark Milley, they have delivered twelve Himars systems, in addition to several other weapons systems.
Also on Wednesday, the wife of the Ukrainian president, Olena Selenska, called on the United States in a speech on Capitol Hill in Washington for more weapons and specifically for air defense systems.
Zelenskyy: Russia uses Ukraine as a testing ground
Meanwhile, President Zelensky himself has accused Russia of using Ukraine as a testing ground for possible attacks against other European states. “Russia is testing everything that can be used against other European countries in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “It started with gas wars and ended with a full-scale invasion, rocket terror and burning of Ukrainian cities.”