Some Russian soldiers last just minutes on front lines against Ukraine's drones, military bloggers say
Kyiv — Once Russian soldiers reach certain parts of the front lines of the war in Ukraine, they can expect to live an average of just 20 to 35 minutes, according to a grim estimate by Russian military bloggers, cited by Oxford historian Peter Frankopan in a Foreign Policy report. CBS News has not independently verified the claim. But similar accounts are becoming increasingly common on Russian military channels, suggesting that more Russians are becoming aware of the war and its toll on their side — a toll Kremlin officials have long sought to shield from view.
TL;DR
- Russian soldiers' average survival time on some front lines is estimated to be as low as 20-35 minutes.
- Drones account for over 80% of Russian losses in the conflict.
- Russia is increasingly relying on infiltration tactics due to the effectiveness of drones against heavy artillery.
- Estimates suggest Russian war deaths have reached nearly 500,000, with more killed than wounded.
- Ukraine is also facing manpower issues but uses drones to mitigate soldiers' exposure.
- A Russian survey indicates 31% of respondents have family members mobilized, a 14% increase since 2022.
- Most Russians know someone killed in action, with only 29% reporting no acquaintances lost.