Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A Costly Setback for Moscow
Russia’s nearly two-year-long invasion of Ukraine has come at a staggering cost, according to newly declassified U.S. intelligence. The assessment estimates that more than 13,000 Russian forces have been killed or wounded since Moscow launched its October offensive along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in eastern Ukraine. In addition, Ukraine’s military has destroyed or immobilized more than 220 Russian combat vehicles, the equivalent of six battalions’ worth of vehicles.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told VOA in a statement that “Russia’s attempt at an offensive has resulted in no strategic gains” and that the Russian losses have been “severe.” However, she added that “Russia is determined to press forward” and believes that a military deadlock through the winter will drain Western support for Ukraine and give Russia the advantage.
The decision to declassify the latest intelligence comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, visiting with U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden. During a speech at the National Defense University in Washington on Monday, Zelenskyy pleaded with U.S. lawmakers “not to betray” Ukraine’s forces and provide more weapons and support, warning Moscow sees Ukraine as “just a stepping-stone.”
The White House has been pushing U.S. lawmakers to approve more than $61 billion in supplemental funding for Kyiv before the end of the year. However, some lawmakers have balked, with some Republicans insisting any deal to provide more money to Ukraine must also include provisions to strengthen U.S. immigration policies and security along the U.S. southern border with Mexico.
In response, White House officials have pointed to the latest declassified intelligence to argue that funding for Ukraine simply cannot wait. A senior administration official told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence and the political negotiations, that “this shows how Ukraine is having success stopping Russian forces, but Putin is continuing to order his troops forward.” The official added that “it’s critical we continue to support Ukraine and make sure they have what they need to defend themselves.”
Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have previously said Russia’s losses in Ukraine have set its military back by as much as five to ten years. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Monday that a failure to back Ukraine will send Russian President Vladimir Putin the wrong message. “If we do not stand up to the Kremlin’s aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos,” he said.
The U.S. must continue to support Ukraine and provide the resources it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. The newly declassified intelligence shows that Ukraine is having success in stopping Russian forces, but Putin is still determined to press forward. It is critical that the U.S. stands up to the Kremlin’s aggression and sends a strong message that it will not tolerate further aggression. The U.S. must provide Ukraine with the necessary resources to defend itself and ensure that Putin’s costly invasion of Ukraine does not go unpunished.
