Russia’s combat power in
Ukraine has declined below 90% of its pre-invasion levels for the first time since its attack began, a senior US defence official said on Tuesday, suggesting heavy losses of weaponry and growing casualties.
The United States has estimated
Russia assembled more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine before the 24 February invasion, along with enough aircraft, artillery, tanks and other firepower for its full-scale attack.
The US defence official, on condition of anonymity and according to a
transcript published by the US department of defense, told reporters:
We assess Russian combat power at just below 90 percent.
They’re expending an awful lot, but they also built up an awful lot since the early fall, and they just have a lot available to them.
For the first time they may be just a little bit below 90 percent.”
The official did not provide evidence for the claims.