NATO’s Mark Rutte says Russia losing 20,000-25,000 troops monthly in Ukraine

NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte stated on Tuesday that Russia is shedding between 20,000 and 25,000 troops each month in its conflict in opposition to Ukraine as preventing drags on for a fourth 12 months.

Rutte informed the Renew Europe World Europe Discussion board in Brussels that the staggering variety of casualties displays the depth of Ukraine’s defenses, however warned that Russia stays the primary long-term menace to NATO.

He cited Moscow’s 24-hour arms manufacturing and a sample of aggressive habits that he stated reveals no signal of easing.

“Let’s not neglect that the Russians are at present shedding enormous numbers of troopers,” the NATO chief stated.

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NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte speaks throughout a joint press convention with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Zagreb, Croatia, January 12, 2026. (Antonio Bronic/Reuters)

“In months, these (20,000) to 25,000 Russians will likely be lifeless. I’m not speaking about critically injured, lifeless. Useless. Twenty to 25,000 per 30 days,” Rutte informed these current. “If you happen to examine that to the conflict in Afghanistan within the Eighties, they misplaced 20,000 folks in ten years. Now they’re shedding these quantities, and way more, in a single month. In order that can also be unsustainable on their half.”

A study from June from the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research (CSIS), a Washington-based protection and nationwide safety assume tank, discovered that Russia has suffered extraordinary casualties whereas making solely marginal territorial good points in Ukraine.

Since January 2024, Russian forces have seized about 5,000 sq. kilometers, lower than 1% of Ukrainian territory, whereas the overall variety of Russian casualties has risen to 1 million, together with as many as 250,000 lifeless, in keeping with the evaluation.

Ukrainian troopers conduct infantry and tank coordination workout routines throughout a coaching train in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, February 15, 2025. (Roman Chop/World Photos Ukraine through Getty Photos)

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Moscow has continued to assault Kiev with missiles and drones, whereas Washington works on a potential peace deal to finish the battle.

Repeated Russian assaults on Ukraine in latest weeks have killed tons of of 1000’s of individuals with out electrical energy and heating when temperatures drop beneath freezing.

Individuals arrive at a tent arrange by emergency providers to heat up after flats had been left with out heating throughout subzero temperatures in Kiev, Ukraine, January 13, 2026. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Wednesday that Russia has hit the Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and Kherson areas, concentrating on their vitality websites and demanding infrastructure.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce condemned earlier Russian assaults throughout an emergency Safety Council assembly in New York on Monday as a “harmful and inexplicable escalation.”