100 Thousand Lives for 1% of Territory. Expert — On the Dead End Putin's Army Has Found Itself In
At such rates of advance, Moscow will need at least another four years of war just to fully occupy the annexed regions. Putin's only chance of success remains Trump's political pressure on Kyiv, claims BILD political commentator Julian Röpcke.
Photo: Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
In the fourth year of the war against Ukraine, Russia, like in previous years, had an advantage on the battlefield: about 1 million soldiers and a war economy that — with China's help — produces weapons and ammunition for Putin's war around the clock.
Nevertheless, in 2025, it managed to capture only 4,400 square kilometers — less than 1% of unoccupied Ukrainian territory, writes Röpcke.
For this, almost 100,000 Russian citizens died in 2025, as realistic estimates outside of Russian and Ukrainian propaganda show. By mid-year, according to an analysis of excess mortality conducted by "Mediazona," the number of dead already amounted to 48,000 people, of whom 22,000 were known by name.
In the second half of the year, the level of losses, according to the publication, at least remained approximately the same. Due to Russia's more active offensive operations, losses may have increased, so the figure of about 100,000 dead (plus 200,000 wounded Russians) is a realistic estimate, writes Röpcke.
Russia is still far from its goal of capturing the four regions annexed by Putin in 2022.
In the Donetsk region, Ukraine still holds 5,700 square kilometers, in Zaporizhzhia — 5,800, and in Kherson — 6,400 sq. km. Thus, even if Russia remains as successful as in 2025, the Russian army will need at least another four years to take control of the annexed territories.
Russia's only hope for a "quick victory" in Ukraine remains joint efforts with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which should force Kyiv to voluntarily withdraw its army from critically important areas, concludes the BILD commentator.
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Дакладней было б казаць 200 тысяч жыццяў, бо ўкраінцы таксама гінуць. Прычым на гэтым этапе вайны, большасць страт ідзе праз дроны, якіх зараз больш з расейскага боку.
"Данецкай вобласці Украіна па-ранейшаму ўтрымлівае 5700 квадратных кіламетраў, у Запарожскай — 5800 і ў Херсонскай — 6400 кв. км"©
Толькі гаворка пра абавязковы захоп Запарожскай і Херсонская вобласці не ідзе. Яны плануюць захапіць Данбас, а гэта меней за 1% тэрыторыі Украіны.
Хутчэй за ўсё, утрыманне гэтай тэрыторыі будзе каштаваць Украіне яшчэ 100 тысяч душ ( пры чым, якая розніца, колькі пры гэтым згіне расейцаў, іх усё роўна ніхто не лічыць, да і ваююць яны дабраахвотна за грошы).