Russia has only 50% of those battalion tactical groups that she had at the beginning of the war. This was stated by a brigadier retired trade, Senior Researcher of the Befer Center at Harvard School Kennedy Kevin Ryan in an interview with TSN.ua.
“Of about 160 battalion tactical groups, which Russia had at the beginning of war, 120-130 entered the war, tried to get to Ukraine. Of these 120-130, according to the last estimates, after the units began to move away from Kiev, after the units began to move away from Kyiv, Russians had approximately 70-80 battalion tactical groups. Therefore, it is significant losses. That is, in Russia only 50% of those battalion tactical groups that she had at the beginning, “Kevin Ryan said.
According to Ryan, the Russian army suffered huge losses from the point of view of their combat force. “And most importantly, they seem to have no contract soldiers or volunteers and units to fill these losses. So, the clock is ticking against President Putin’s army. They lose troops and parts. And it seems that they cannot create new troops and units. For replacement, “he noted.
The Brigadier General retired also analyzed whether, in his opinion, is now released Mariupol and release Kherson.
“The fighting in Mariupol and Kherson are important in terms of the goal of the Russian military to get a single lane along the southern border of Ukraine to cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea. Defense in Mariupol is awesome. This is an amazing achievement that the Ukrainian military still hold there. . I don’t know how long it can continue. They are almost completely surrounded. However, we must remember from the story that there are examples, as small groups held a lot of weeks and months, “he said.
Ryan noted that Kherson is also extremely important. “Since Kherson and Nikolaev are two” gateways “to further promote the Ground Forces of Russia in Odessa. The fact that they are still not under the complete control of the Russian military, is also a great merit of Ukrainian fighters, and this blocks the implementation of Putin’s strategic goal. Southern Ukraine, “he explained.