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The Kremlin denies that the staggering losses among Russian forces in the so-called “special operation” in Ukraine continue to mount.

 The Moscow Times reports that 90,000 Russian soldiers have died, are missing, or have suffered serious injuries and can’t return to the battlefield.

Since March there have been reports that a large number of high-ranking commanders have been killed.  And virtually all the rest have been fired and replaced to try and reset the 8-month conflict. 

On October 12th the Moscow Times reported the massive losses of the Russian forces. The online publication cited the Russian media project “Important Stories” in an article written by “a current FSB officer and a former officer of the Russian special services.”

The U.S. and its allies were in a “stand-off” with Russia at before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They estimated at least 190,000 Russian troops were amassed at Ukraine’s border before they attacked. The 90,000 estimates of killed and wounded, represent a loss of almost half of the Russian troops believed breached Ukraine’s border.

Kremlin denies Western estimates 

Ben Wallace, the British Defense Secretary announced in September that the UK believed that of the over 80,000 losses the Russian army has suffered, at least 25,000 soldiers were believed to have died.

The number of those killed or missing also falls roughly in line with estimates from the Pentagon and other Western sources. The Pentagon claimed that through late August, between 70,000-80,000 soldiers had been lost since the February 24th Russian invasion of Ukraine. And that the number of those killed was likely higher than Wallace estimated.

Moscow has only admitted to Russian losses twice during the invasion. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoig claims that only a total of 5,397 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine.

Putin addresses troop shortage

. Massive losses of personnel and equipment are a result of the fierce resistance from Ukraine. And Ukrainian counter-offensives have effectively pushed the invading forces to the South and the East of the country.

By the end of September Russian leader, Vladimir Putin had implemented a partial military mobilization to add 300,000 of the country’s reservists to fight in Ukraine.  He is also trying to fast-track the build-up of weaponry to replace the weapon and equipment losses in Ukraine.

The new recruits would not be needed if there had not been substantial losses on the battlefield.  Losses that the Kremlin denies.