russia’s losses in Ukraine must be like Soviet Union’s 9-year war in Afghanistan, British intelligence says

In the first three months of the war in Ukraine, russia's death toll is likely to be the same as the Soviet Union's during its nine-year war in Afghanistan.

The British Ministry of Defense states this in the daily British intelligence war review.

The combination of poor tactics at low altitudes with limited air cover, lack of flexibility, and a team approach, ready to increase failures and repeat mistakes has led to a high level of losses, which continues to increase during the Donbas offensive.

Intelligence emphasizes that the russian public has in the past been sensitive to the losses suffered during the wars of choice. Thus, as the number of victims in Ukraine grows, the losses will become more and more obvious, and public discontent with the war and the desire to voice it may increase.

EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell said earlier that if figures and reports were confirmed, russian troops could set a world record for the invading army.