Russian troops suffered an average of around 1,500 casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine in October, UK defense chief Admiral Tony Radakin told the BBC. His interview was quoted by PA media and DPA.
The Russian people are paying an “extreme price” about the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Radakin said, adding that in October Russia suffered the biggest losses since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.
„Russia will soon reach losses of 700,000 killed and wounded – enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation will have to bear because of Putin's ambition, Radakin noted, quoted by BTA.
He stated that although Russia is achieving success and putting pressure on Ukraine, the losses are “for small pieces of land”.
Russian spending on the war, according to him, amounts to more than 40% of public spending on defense and security. They are “a huge burden” for Moscow, the admiral emphasized.
With the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States casting doubt on Washington's support for Ukraine, Radakin said Western allies would support Kiev “as long as necessary”.
„This is the message that President Putin should take and the reassurance for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,” he said.
In an article for the British publication “Sunday Times” Radakin writes that the growing threat from authoritarian states, including Russia, North Korea and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, is putting the international community “under enormous strain”.
„This is a new era of competition and competition that will last for decades and has the potential to be more disruptive to our economy and security than anything Britain is experiencing today,” he wrote.