Today, for the first time, the US administration has given an accurate estimate of the number of soldiers killed and wounded in the war in Ukraine.
15:03•Updated 15:05
Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces Mark Milley according to more than 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
He also estimates that the Ukrainian forces have probably suffered similar losses and that neither side may be able to win the war by military means.
According to Milley, there would now be an opportunity to revive negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
– Both sides must recognize that military victory in the true sense of the word is probably not achievable by military means, and therefore other means should be tried. This would be an opportunity for negotiations, he said.
On Wednesday, Russia ordered its troops to withdraw from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, which is considered a major blow to Russia’s military efforts.
President of the United States Joe Biden withdrawing is a clear indication of Russia’s serious problems on the battlefield.
On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian troops would move to positions on the east bank of the Dnieper River.
Ukrainian troops have been approaching Kherson for weeks. Ukraine said on Thursday that it had already recaptured twelve residential areas in the Kherson region during the day.
Ukraine reacts cautiously to Russia’s announcement
Ukrainian officials do not believe that the Russian army would leave the important city without a fight.
Ukrainian peace negotiator, MP David Arakhamian according to Ukraine’s armed forces are not going to be lulled into a false sense of security.
– We do not trust the enemy and we are going to continue liberating the areas according to our plans, Arakhamian said.
Even before the military withdrawal began, Russia moved at least 115,000 people out of the city across the river. According to Ukraine, these are forced transfers of the civilian population, although according to Russia, the civilians have been taken away from the feet of the fighting.
The USA does not supply Ukraine with advanced drones
The US has refused to supply Ukraine with its advanced drones to prevent an escalation of the war, said Wall Street Journal magazine (you will switch to another service) on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, the Biden administration has refused to deliver the Gray Eagle MQ-1C aircraft requested by Ukraine, so as not to unnerve Russia and convey the message that the United States is providing weapons with which Ukraine could also strike on Russia’s side.
Ukraine has been asking for weapons for months.