According to estimates released by the Norwegian military commander, about 180,000 Russians have been killed or wounded during the war in Ukraine so far, while Ukrainian figures are at 100,000 military casualties and 3 Thousands of civilians died.
Key Point:
- The Norwegian Defense Minister said despite heavy losses, “Russia can continue. [this war] for quite some time
- Russian warships armed with hypersonic missiles will participate in joint exercises with China and South Africa
- The head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group admitted comparisons between him and Rasputin
“Russian losses are beginning to approach about 180,000 casualties,” Norwegian Defense Ministry General Eirik Kristoffersen said in an interview with TV2, but did not disclose how the figure was calculated.
Norway, which borders Russia, has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949.
“Ukraine’s losses are probably over 100,000 dead or wounded. In addition, Ukraine has about 30,000 civilians who died in this terrible war,” the Norwegian general said.
In November, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said Russian forces had suffered more than 100,000 casualties and that Ukraine had “probably” similar casualties.
These figures cannot be independently verified, and Moscow and Kyiv have not provided a credible account of their losses for many months.
Despite heavy losses, “Russia can continue [this war] General Christophersen said on Sunday, citing Moscow’s mobilization and arms production capabilities.
“The biggest concern is whether Ukraine will be able to keep the Russian Air Force out of the war,” he said, adding that so far it has been possible “thanks to Ukraine’s anti-aircraft defenses.”
Most of Russia’s attacks in recent months have been carried out by long-range missiles.
The Norwegian general also called for the speedy delivery of combat tanks to Ukraine, hitherto largely blocked by Germany.
“If they want to go on the offensive in winter, they (Ukrainians) need it urgently,” added General Christophersen.
Berlin refused to supply Leopard tanks to Kyiv on Friday, despite urgent appeals from Ukraine and several European countries.
Heavy tanks exist in the ranks of several other European countries, including Norway, but theoretically delivery to Ukraine is subject to the green light of Germany.
Russian warships participate in joint exercises with China, South Africa
Germany is reluctant to send Leopards to Ukraine as Russia prepares to show its military might by participating in joint naval exercises with China and South Africa.
Russian warships armed with new-generation hypersonic cruise weapons will join the two countries’ contingents in February on exercises near the South African port cities of Durban and Richards Bay, state news agency TASS reported.
The report bears the full name of Soviet Fleet Admiral Gorshkov, is armed with Zircon missiles that can fly at nine times the speed of sound, and has a reported range of more than 1,000 kilometers.
Russia sees weapons as a way to penetrate the increasingly sophisticated US missile defenses that President Vladimir Putin has warned could one day shoot down a nuclear missile.
Admiral Gorshkov conducted exercises in the Norwegian Sea earlier this month after Putin sent him to the Atlantic as a signal that Russia would not back down in the Ukraine war.
Wagner’s Boss Admits Comparisons to Imperial-Era Monk Rasputin
Mercenary boss Evgeny Prigozhin, one of the proponents of Moscow’s ruthless approach, responded Sunday by drawing comparisons to the monk Rasputin, who befriended Russia’s last royal family.
However, while Rasputin treated the tsar’s son for hemophilia, Prigozhin said his job was not to stop the bleeding, but to shed the blood of Russia’s enemies.
Britain’s Financial Times made the comparison over the weekend, citing Prigozhin’s growing ability to influence Putin as Rasputin’s considerable influence over the wife of Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II. was likened to
Prigozhin, like Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, is an active supporter of the Russian war, according to the newspaper, adding that “the military, bureaucratic and He has established himself as a scathing critic of the business elite.”.
Prigogine confirmed the creation of the Wagner Group last September. The Wagner Group played a major role in attempts by Russian forces to seize territory in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
In recent months, online videos have been seen of him trying to lure inmates out of Russian prisons to fight in conflicts.
“I’m not very familiar with Rasputin’s history, but as far as I know, Rasputin’s key attribute is that he stopped the young prince’s blood with a spell,” Prigogin’s press service told him. quoting the remarks of the article.
“Unfortunately, I cannot stop the flow of blood. I make the enemies of my homeland bleed, not by spells, but by direct contact with them.”
Prigogine said the comparison between himself and President Rasputin was “absolutely clear” and that he sees his role as undoing the wayward Westerners.
“When children play pranks, they try to get their father’s attention with all sorts of unexpected tricks,” he wrote.
“So all Americans have to do is come to their dads, ask for forgiveness, and continue with their normal behavior.”
Rasputin was assassinated in 1916 by a group of Russian aristocrats.
Reuters/AFP
