World
Russia Reports Over 50,000 Casualties in Ukraine, Including 28,000 Killed, NATO Official Says
A senior NATO military official, speaking anonymously, said that Russia suffered more than 50,000 casualties in Ukraine last month, with up to 28,000 personnel killed. Ukrainian forces incurred about 5,000 casualties in the same period. The official explained that Russian troops have been moving into “kill zones” heavily defended by armed drones, land mines, artillery fire and other defenses. The situation has heightened the stakes for Moscow, as Ukrainian deep‑air strikes have destroyed oil refineries and data centers, and a ground offensive has recaptured more than 125 square kilometres of territory. Last week, Martin Jäger, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), noted that the war effort has created a dynamic that makes it difficult for President Vladimir Putin to end the invasion begun in February 2022 without a political cost. On Sunday, former President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an “energy ceasefire” effective immediately, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no deal had been finalized and the war continues. Russia’s defense spending is expected to reach about 17 trillion rubles this year, roughly 40 % higher than the original plan announced by the government at the end of 2025. In July, Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, stated that 43,000 Russians had been killed or wounded on the battlefield. The Kremlin does not release casualty or recruitment figures, and Palisa’s estimates cannot be confirmed by Bloomberg. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.