Russian President Vladimir Putin was demonstratively in a good mood on Tuesday: photos and videos published by state media show him smiling and joking in a military battle jacket as he sits next to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. You will witness the military maneuvers of “Vostok” in the far east of Russia, intended to show the strength of its troops. Meanwhile, troops in Ukraine loyal to Moscow are suffering setbacks.
The maneuver, which also involves troops from China and India, has been running since September 1. The fact that it is taking place in Ukraine, despite the war being thousands of miles away, is apparently intended to indicate that the Russian military is still able to conduct its normal course of business despite current heavy losses in personnel and equipment. But according to the Defense Ministry, only 50,000 soldiers are involved, a fraction of the 300,000 soldiers reportedly involved in the last ‘Vostok’ maneuver four years ago. Western military experts find both figures exaggerated.
Ammunition depots destroyed again
Meanwhile, Ukraine reports progress in the counter-offensive launched in the south of the country last week. NAccording to its own statements, the army has destroyed four Russian ammunition depots in the Kherson region – the destruction of ammunition stockpiles was reported a few days ago. Bridges across the Dnipro were also under fire, the southern command of the Ukrainian armed forces said.
Recently, there have also been gains in territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told ABC News that Ukraine is gradually taking action against the occupation of its territory. The conflict cannot be frozen now, Ukraine is taking back its territory. “It’s only a matter of time.”
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian army has already lost more than 50,000 soldiers in the more than six-month-long aggressive war in Ukraine. This information cannot be independently confirmed, it is probably too high. The British Ministry of Defense estimates that about 25,000 Russian soldiers were killed. Russia itself has not provided information about its own victims for a long time.
Spare parts are scarce due to sanctions
Regardless, reports of massive Russian losses on the battlefield are piling up: according to British intelligence experts, a lack of reconnaissance drones is making it increasingly difficult for Russian troops to operate. “Given the number of casualties on the battlefield, it is likely that Russia will struggle to maintain its UAV supplies,” the British Ministry of Defense said. This is exacerbated as the international sanctions lead to a shortage of spare parts.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
