Russia Has Lost 300,000 Troops In Ukraine War: Kyiv
NewsweekOct 31, 2023
Ukraine Shells Russia's Belgorod Region
Image copyright: Vlada Liberova/Libkos via Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
According to Russian state media, Ukraine reportedly fired more than 140 different munitions into Russia's Belgorod region over 24 hours ending on Thursday. Russia said it downed a fixed-wing drone near the village of Batratskaya in the Shebekinsky district, while Ukraine fired 31 artillery shells and 31 grenade launchers at the village of Shchetinovka.
Russian media further stated that it shot down a Ukrainian fixed-wing drone over the village of Novaya Derevnya and two drones over the village of Solntsevka. Ukraine launched six mortar shells at the outskirts of the village of Kazachye-Rudchenskoye in the Borisovsky district, as well as 16 artillery and 20 mortar shells at the village of Dolgoye in the Valuysky district.
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Russia has endured substantial losses in the 20-month-long war in Ukraine, with over 300K casualties reported — numbers that are not only provided by Kyiv's military but are also corroborated by independent analysts and Western intelligence. The disparity in casualties between the two nations suggests Russia is now subjecting its infantrymen to almost certain death.
Pro-Russia narrative
While there certainly have been high casualty numbers on both sides, the idea that Kyiv is outmaneuvering Moscow is just not true. Even Ukraine's so-called "Iron General" admitted this week that, unless the West can provide them with some extraordinary technological advantage, the stalemate of trench warfare will continue — a reality that, although Zelenskly won't admit it, advantages Russia.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance the size of Ukraine's army will be at least 250K as a result of the cease-fire or treaty negotiations with Russia, according to the Metaculus prediction community.