John Kirby, White House National Security spokesperson, told reporters that the US intelligence estimates included more than 20.000 dead, of which half were Wagner mercenaries, including convicts who had been released from prison and joined the fighting.
Kirby stated that “Russia’s winter offensive in Donbas, largely via Bakhmut, has failed.”
“Last Decembre, Russia launched a broad offensive along multiple lines of advance. This included toward Vuhledar and Avdiivka as well as Bakhmut and Kreminna. The majority of these attempts stalled or failed. “Russia has not been able to seize any strategic territory of significance.”
He said that the Russians had made incremental gains in Bakhmut, but this came at a “terrible cost”. Ukraine’s defences in the area remain strong.
Kirby stated that “Russia’s military stocks and armed forces have been exhausted.”
He said that the majority of the Wagner mercenary soldiers were “Russian prisoners thrown into combat without adequate combat training, combat leadership or any sense or organizational command and control”.
Kirby said that the numbers are “really stunning”, adding that the total is more than three times as many American casualties during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War Two.
Kirby announced that another US arms package for Ukraine will be announced shortly.
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