“According to Russian military bloggers, the average life expectancy of a new recruit—from arrival at a training ground to death in a combat zone—lies somewhere between 10 days and three weeks. Once they are sent onto the battlefield, Russian fighters survive an average of 20 to 35 minutes.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/25/russia-ukraine-war-putin-escalation-nato-europe/

#russia #war #military #casualties #Ukraine

As the Tide Turns Against Putin, Beware the Drowning Man

Like a struggling swimmer, he may take desperate measures to stay afloat.

Foreign Policy

@davidaugust Horrendous, yet I spot glee in the reactions. Over a million killed now - many forced into the Russian army. Lured into it by recruiters spinning lies about other work. People from Botswana, Uganda, South Africa and Kenya duped by recuiters from “Russian Houses”; conscripts and forced laborers from North Korea and Russia. People, not “orcs”, or “vermin”, or “subhumans”.

As noted many times, the dictators and oligarchs are the same everywhere. As are the people they send into meat grinders to further their interest. I find no joy in these horrors.

@js I’m not seeing a lot of joy in the replies, so much as relief that the aggression russia has chosen is not bearing them fruit, and instead gives them loses too.

Maybe I am being optimistic, but I don’t see a lot of people rejoicing at the loss of life, but instead the celestial order of a bully paying a price.

@davidaugust we’re not seeing the same thing, and that’s good. I hope you’re right.

Sic semper tyrannis all the way yay, but I don’t see the bully paying the price. His victims, however…