Shocking figures for Vladimir Putin: Russia suffers worst losses since World War II

Shocking figures for Vladimir Putin: Russia suffers worst losses since World War II gom/loc/news.de/dpa • 17 hours • 3 minutes read Vladimir Putin is said to be suffering the highest troop losses for Russia since World War II. What's currently important in the Ukraine war: Peace in Ukraine still seems a long way off. Although US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with both Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week, and the warring parties expressed their willingness to temporarily halt attacks on energy facilities, the attacks continued in both countries. Just on the night of March 21, Russia launched, among other things, a massive drone strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, which also targeted civilian objects and reportedly injured several people. Fighting also continues unabated on the front lines, with devastating losses. New figures released by the British Ministry of Defense are alarming for Vladimir Putin. Mega-losses for Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war: Russia is said to have already lost 900,000 soldiers A recent intelligence report from the ministry states that up to 250,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began in February 2022. The Daily Mail recently reported on this. These are the worst troop losses since World War II. A total of 900,000 casualties are mentioned, including wounded fighters. According to the British Ministry of Defense, "Putin and the Russian military leadership are most likely prioritizing their military objectives over the lives of Russian soldiers." The persistently high casualty figures are accepted "as long as this does not negatively impact public or elite support for the war and these losses can be compensated." The Kremlin is also accused of primarily recruiting men from poorer regions of Russia belonging to ethnic minorities for the Ukraine war. In comparison, significantly fewer personnel are recruited for the army from urban centers such as Moscow or St. Petersburg. Kiev also reports high casualty figures for Moscow The British figures are consistent with the casualty figures for Russian troops published by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. According to Kyiv, almost 900,000 enemy soldiers have been eliminated since the beginning of the invasion (as of March 20, 2025). Recently, more than 1,000 Russians were reported killed every day. Moscow remains silent about its own losses in the war. What's next in the Ukraine war: Negotiations on a limited ceasefire are scheduled to continue next week in Saudi Arabia. Talks between American, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives are planned, including to discuss details of the ban on attacks on energy facilities. "I understand the structure as follows: There will be a meeting between Ukraine and America, and then—as our American partners have said—shuttle diplomacy: then America with Russia," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Regardless of this, Europe continues to discuss how it wants to continue supporting the country under attack by Russia in the future. This also includes a "coalition of the willing" that would send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to secure a possible ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited another summit in Paris on March 27.