GodisanAtheist
Posts: 246 +356
New York Times work for you?
"Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say"
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/us/politics/ukraine-russia-war-casualties.html
This pegs Ukraine's losses at just over 200K ...but readily admits that's based on Kiev's own reporting. And Kiev bans all western reporters from the battlefield. Given their record of honesty in war reporting is even worse than Moscows, I'd say the figure is substantially higher.
You misunderstand my intent. I'm merely trying to show you that no amount finger-pointing will change the realities here. Russia's military is stronger today than before the war began, and it -will- defend Crimea with all means at its disposal, including nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, we have Zelensky claiming the war won't end until he parks tanks in Red Square, and -- just over the last week -- we learn the US is planning to increase its "military advisors" in Ukraine by a substantial amount. Do you see an off ramp here for either side?
- Got it, so Ukrainian Casualties are clearly well below the 500K figure you initially quoted (granted that NYtimes link is paywalled so I can't check behind it). I like how this same report says Russians have suffered 300K casualties, and their numbers are not bolstered by civilian deaths, so those 300K will be composed almost entirely of Russian service personnel... that's *a lot* worse than the 50,000 killed I initially found, although 300K obviously includes every kind of wounded as well.
- Yes, Russia will have to accept defeat or the end of the human race through nuclear Armageddon. But unlike you, I am giving Russia all the agency here, this is entirely up to them and no one else as the aggressor.