UK MoD Says Russia has Lost a Third of its Ground Forces

LOCAL NEWS

• UK MoD says Russia has likely lost a third of its ground forces since the war began, and that Russia’s momentum in the Donbas is slowing with the campaign significantly behind schedule.
  • Says Russian forces are constrained by degraded enabling capacities, continued low morale & reduced combat effectiveness. Russia is unlikely to dramatically accelerate its rate of advance over the next 30 days.
  • Overnight, Zelensky said the situation on Donbas was difficult, but they were forcing the Russians out – Sky, Tass
• In a phone call on Saturday initiated by Finland, Putin told Finnish president Niinisto that his decision to end Finnish neutrality by joining NATO was ‘a mistake’ as there is no threat to Finalnd’s security.
  • Moscow has threatened reciprocal steps and military-technical measures to Finland’s NATO bid, which was confirmed on Sunday – Moscow Times, RTRS
• Expert says Turkey’s objection to Sweden & Finland joining NATO is no surprise. Turkey has used occasions like this to stand out and seek certain concessions in return for its support. A similar tactic was used for the election of NATO SG Rasmussen, where Turkey gained several high level positions in NATO structures for its support – Tass

Data/Events:

• Putin Hosts CSTO Summit in Moscow