Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties since December, Biden administration estimates
From CNN's Betsy Klein and DJ Judd
A destroyed Russian tank sits on the side of the road near Kreminna, Ukraine, on March 24. (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters)
The Biden administration announced new estimated casualty figures Monday from Russia’s winter offensive in Ukraine, saying that the country has suffered more than 100,000 casualties since December and the "stunning" number is a key signal that Moscow's effort has “backfired.”
The US is defining the term “casualty” as both wounded and killed.
Kirby, who serves as National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, noted that “nearly half” of those casualties were fighters with the
Russian private company Wagner— whom
CNN has reported have experienced horrific experiences on the battlefield following minimal training and little leadership.
Kirby lambasted a recent assertion from Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who said Sunday that his group had only suffered 94 casualties, Kirby calling that “just a ludicrous claim.”
Pressed on the source of the new 100,000 figure, Kirby said it was “based on some downgraded intelligence that we’ve been able to collect.” He declined to provide information on Ukrainian casualties, noting that the US has “never” provided such information and would defer to Ukraine on the matter.
Kirby added that the Ukrainians “are the victims here, Russia is the aggressor, and I'm simply not going to put information in the public domain that's going to, again, make it any harder for the Ukrainians."
The official noted that it's ultimately Ukraine's decision to declassify and make their casualty figures public. "I don't need to abide by that same sense of courtesy for the Russians — haven't done it and I ain't going to start now," he said.
With regards to fighting on the ground: Kirby said that “most” of Russia’s efforts have “stalled and failed” as the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut continues. He added that Russia has made “incremental” gains in the town that has “very little strategic value.”
“The bottom line is that Russia's attempted offensive has backfired. After months of fighting and extraordinary losses, Russia continues to be focused on a single Ukrainian city with limited strategic value," the official said.
Kirby said any decision about a spring counteroffensive from Ukraine would be “for President (Volodymyr) Zelensky to make,” but that the US will continue to provide military aid and support.
The US official also told reporters a future package for Ukraine would be unveiled "very soon."
"What we want to stay focused on is making sure that we're helping them be as ready as they can be for whenever they choose to step off. And that means, obviously, in material support,” he told reporters.
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Hivi Vita ni fedheha na hasara kwa Urusi na Putin