– If Russia manages to take over the Donbass region, freeze the front lines and annex these areas, then the future looks very dark.
Ilmari Käikö, Associate Professor of Military Science at the Swedish National Defense College, says Swedens radio.
It has been almost four months since the war in Ukraine began. All the way, Ukraine has talked openly about how many soldiers they think the Russians have lost, but have been very frugal in talking about their own losses. Until now.
– It is worrying that Ukraine is increasingly emphasizing its own losses. The authorities have said that they lose up to one battalion every day, Käikö tells the radio channel.
MATCHES: Drone video shows Ukrainian soldier’s fight against a group of Russian soldiers in the Luhansk region in the initial phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Video: 4ZLPR / Telegram sea view
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– Very unclear
According to the head teacher and lieutenant colonel at the War School, Palle Ydstebø, a battalion consists of around 700 to 800 soldiers.
He tells Dagbladet that the Russians are completely superior when it comes to artillery.
– They have been accused of using a strategy similar to that «The tactics of the burnt earth». They bomb the areas systematically, but lack enough infantry to hold ground. For my part, it is very unclear to see who has control where.
ARTILLERY CENTRAL: Lieutenant Colonel Palle Ydstebø, says that Russia’s great strength is the artillery. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB sea view
– Political goals
According to Ydstebø, if the Russians are to gain control of the Donbass region, it will ensure that Putin has achieved one of his limited political goals.
He emphasizes the differences between the two parties after almost four months of war.
– Russia’s strength is that they have large artillery forces. However, they have shown a weakness on the ground as they have not been able to utilize the terrain. Ukraine, for its part, lacks artillery, but the motivation and quality of its troops is their obvious strength.
