REUTERS
- Russia could need up to 10 years to replenish its army, according to UK military intelligence.
- The average daily number of Russian casualties has increased to nearly 300 per day, it said.
- Russia could face over half a million troop losses by 2025, according to projections.
It could take Russia up to 10 years to restore its military capabilities to their former strength, the UK Ministry of Defence intelligence update reports.
The average daily number of Russian casualties has witnessed a staggering increase of nearly 300 per day compared to the preceding year, as reported by Ukrainian authorities, it said.
This surge in casualties is indicative of weakened Russian military forces and "a transition toward a lower-quality, high-quantity mass army" following the 'partial mobilization' of reservists in September 2022.
Experts suggest Russia faces a sizable challenge in restoring its military capabilities to its former strength. The Ministry of Defence estimates a timeline of five to ten years for Russia to rebuild highly trained and experienced military units.
This reconstruction process involves not only replenishing the ranks but also re-establishing the expertise and caliber that have been compromised during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A drawn-out recovery period could weaken Russia's geopolitical standing and ability to respond effectively to emerging threats.
Looking ahead, if the current rate of casualties persists over the next year, Russia could find itself grappling with the toll of sustaining over half a million personnel killed and wounded by 2025.
This projection starkly contrasts with historical benchmarks, such as the Soviet Union's 70,000 casualties over the nine-year Soviet-Afghan War.
Russia has suffered 315,000 casualties - soldiers killed and wounded - since the start of the war, according to US intelligence. It estimated that Russia had lost nearly 90% of the personnel it had started with when the conflict began, per Reuters.