Rutte: Russia's monthly losses nearly match US casualties in 14 years of Vietnam War
Photo: Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General (Getty Images)
In just one month, Russia has lost nearly as many troops killed and wounded in Ukraine as the US lost during all 14 years of the Vietnam War, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Rutte pointed out that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is suffering defeats on the battlefield.
Over the past several months, the Russian army's monthly losses have exceeded 40,000 troops killed and severely wounded.
"The United States in 14 years, in Vietnam, lost 56,000. Here in one month, Russia, dead or seriously wounded, 40,000. And in October, early reporting indicates this number may have climbed to over 50,000. 50,000 in one month," the NATO chief stressed.
He noted that, because of his failures on the battlefield, Putin is trying to undermine Ukrainians' willingness to continue fighting. To this end, Russia is attacking civilians, Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, and attempting to destroy critical infrastructure ahead of winter.
According to Rutte, Moscow has stepped up its hostile activities across European countries.
" Putin is trying to divide us, destabilise our societies and disrupt our support for Ukraine with arson, drone incidents, cyber-attacks, and other malicious activities. But let’s be clear. He is failing," Rutte stressed.
Read also: The Kremlin unexpectedly backed NATO's participation in negotiations on Ukraine.
Also, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported Russian military losses since the beginning of November.
