A Pentagon assessment determined that the Russian forces sent in on the initial invasion of Ukraine have experienced a casualty rate approaching 20%, with about one in five of their soldiers being killed or wounded, the Washington Post reports.
Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters the Russian forces were “almost completely devastated,” with Russian commanders sending units back to Russia or into Belarus to refit and rest before being redeployed back to Ukraine.
NATO estimates put Russian killed in action at between 7,000 and 15,000, or approximately 5-10% of the 150,000 Russian commanders used in the invasion.