NATO compares Russian losses in Ukraine to Soviet war in Afghanistan, reveals figures
Chair of Military Committee Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone (photo: Vlad Nesterov, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia is losing more people in Ukraine each month than the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) lost over the entire decade of the Afghan campaign, NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to the admiral, the front is currently essentially at a stalemate — no breakthroughs are expected from either side. At the same time, Russia is losing about 35,000 people per month.
For comparison: over the entire 10 years of the Afghan war, the Soviet Union lost 20,000 people.
"I mean, they're losing 35,000 per month, something like that. And they lost 20,000 in the whole Russia-Afghan war, which lasted for 10 years. So, this is amazing. There is a stalemate, but they are having a lot of losses every single day. And that's unbelievable," Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said.
Exhaustion as a strategy
When asked about the path to Ukraine's victory in the war, the admiral answered unequivocally — it is the exhaustion of Russia and its economy to the point where it will not be able to continue the war.
"Yes. And if the fight in the Strait of Hormuz comes to an end, we will need to rewind and go back to sanctions and on. And that's my hope," he added.
Discussions are ongoing in the Alliance and the EU about strengthening defense. In particular, the European Union has begun work on clarifying Article 42.7 — a mutual defense pact that obliges countries to assist each other in the event of aggression.
Meanwhile, the UK is considering the possibility of creating a "defense bank" to rearm 10 northern European allies — Norway, Finland, Sweden, and others.
The idea is modeled on the EU's €150 billion lending scheme, but no decision has yet been made.
