'1,000 people dead a day,' Rutte on Russia's December losses
Photo: Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that in December, Russia was losing around 1,000 soldiers per day in its war against Ukraine. He emphasized that this number refers to soldiers killed, not just wounded, according to NATO's website.
"And yes, it is true, the Russians have lost in December 1,000 people dead—not seriously wounded, dead—a day. That's over 30,000 in the month of December. In the 1980s in Afghanistan, the Soviets lost 20,000 in 10 years. Now they (Russia – ed.) lose 30,000 in one month," Rutte said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The Secretary General also noted that while there is much European attention on Greenland, "the main issue is Ukraine."
"As we speak, Russian missiles and Russian drones are attacking the energy infrastructure in Ukraine. We know that it is now minus 20 degrees in Kyiv. We know that Ukraine can only take care of 60 percent of its own electricity," he said.
Rutte added that despite heavy losses, Russia continues to escalate attacks and offensive operations in Ukraine.
The Secretary General also said that €90 billion in aid from the European Commission "will only be there in March, April, May, whenever, so that still takes time."
Additionally, Rutte stressed that Ukraine still lacks interceptors and American gear, "because it is not any longer available in Europe."
"So, this focus in Ukraine should be our number one priority, and then we can discuss all the issues, including Greenland. But it should be Ukraine first because it is crucial for our European and US security," he concluded.
Russian losses
On December 31, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian army had neutralized hundreds of thousands of Russian troops in 2025.
"We have one of the strongest and most experienced armies in the world. Nearly 420,000 neutralized Russian troops this year alone is proof of that," he noted.
As of January 20–21, Russian forces lost an additional 1,170 soldiers in combat, bringing total Russian losses since the start of the full-scale war to over 1.2 million personnel.
