It is noted that cemeteries associated with elite units of the Russian Federation have grown significantly in size.
Up to 20,000 Russian troops could have died in the battles for Bakhmut alone / photo ua.depositphotos.com
Satellite images of Russian cemeteries have revealed what a “huge price” the Russian army actually pays in the war in Ukraine. For example, in one area in two years the number of graves increased fourfold, writes The Telegraph with reference to expert statements and photos from Maxar Technologies.
It is noted that “striking” photographs show that since the invasion began in February 2022, cemeteries associated with elite units such as the Guards Airborne Division, the Guards Motorized Division and the Wagner mercenary group have grown significantly in size.
“For example, photos of just one section of Moscow’s Tula Cemetery show that the number of graves approximately quadrupled between October 2021 and April 2023. During this time, a completely new section was added to the nearby Bogorodskoye Cemetery, which, apparently , has tripled in size. Both are located near Ryazan in western Russia, where units of the 106th Guards Airborne Division are based. Troops from this division took part in the first battles of the war in Ukraine, and then participated in operations in the Bakhmut area along with troops “Wagner,” the publication says.
According to Western intelligence estimates, up to 20,000 Russian troops could have died in the battles for Bakhmut.
Former British Army intelligence officer and NATO planner Colonel Philip Ingram called the photos “astonishing.” They show “the enormous price that Russian conscripts pay,” he said:
“I am not surprised by the apparent increase in cemeteries near bases, since Russia is currently losing more than 900 troops a day with minimal territorial gains, as evidenced by Russian losses in the Battle of Avdievka, where more than 16 thousand of their soldiers died.”
According to him, the reality for Russians is that the increase in the size of these cemeteries does not fully reflect the true number of war dead:
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“Many bodies remain where they fell on the battlefield. Recovery and repatriation of the Russian dead is not a priority, as this would reveal the true scale of the casualties… This year, total casualties on both sides are likely to reach a million. I believe the cemeteries will either will grow in size again, or new ones will have to be built.”
The publication added that estimates of the number of Russian soldiers killed in battles in Ukraine vary greatly.
Russian losses in Ukraine – data from the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Let us recall that the total combat losses of Russia in Ukraine since the beginning of the large-scale invasion exceeded 424 thousand soldiers.
In addition, Russia lost on the battlefield no less than: 6,731 tanks, 12,850 armored combat vehicles, 10,466 artillery systems, 1,015 MLRS, 709 air defense systems, 347 aircraft, 325 helicopters.
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2024-03-10 11:55:00
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