Russian forces suffered their highest ever monthly losses in October, the U.K.’s chief of defense staff has said, as troops continue to suffer in Vladimir Putin‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
There were an average of 1,500 people dead or injured every day in Ukraine during October, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the BBC, saying it was the worst month for losses since the conflict began back in February 2022.
“Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or wounded,” he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
According to the most recent update from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, 708,890 Russian personnel have now been killed in the war.
The ministry also reported equipment losses, including 9,249 tanks, 18,726 armored fighting vehicles and 20,280 artillery systems.
Russia does not usually publish its military losses and many analysts are skeptical of reports released by both sides.
Newsweek has reached out to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for comment.
“The enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to bear because of Putin’s ambition,” he said, adding that though Moscow has been making gains and putting pressure on Ukraine, these losses have been for “tiny increments of land.”
He also noted that Russia is spending over 40 percent of public expenditure on security and defense, which he said was an “enormous drain,” on the country.
Radakin also said that Western allies will stand with Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”
“That’s the message President Putin has to absorb and the reassurance for President [Volodymyr] Zelensky.”
Following the result of the 2024 presidential election, which saw president-elect Donald Trump secure a second non-consecutive term in the White House, concerns and questions about the future of Ukraine have heightened.
Trump has pledged that he will end the Ukraine war in a day, but it is unclear how he will come through on these plans and how the Kremlin may react.
The result of the presidential election could see a change in how the war in Ukraine, as well as other global conflicts, are being handled, as Trump’s second term will likely see a change in foreign policy decisions in comparison to the current administration.
Last month, Zelensky presented a “victory plan,” to the Ukrainian parliament.
The plan included a refusal to cede Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and Zelensky has also said that he wants to secure an invitation to NATO before the end of President Joe Biden‘s tenure.
The Kremlin dismissed the victory plan and said that Kyiv needs to “sober up.”
Both Putin and Zelensky have congratulated Trump on his presidential win, however the U.S.’ future involvement and support of Ukraine now looks unclear.
Newsweek has reached out to the Kremlin for comment.
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