Vladimir Putin’s army is in disarray after losing almost the entirety of its special force units and sustaining jaw dropping casualties. Russia’s paratroopers (VDV) and marines are some of the most feared and highly skilled military units that Putin’s army possesses.
These crack regiments have been deployed to Ukraine since the start of hostilities, fighting in many different places along the 600 mile front lines.
Like the rest of Putin’s army, they have suffered heavy casualties, after often being thrown into battle without adequate artillery or air support.
The ever mounting deaths have seriously dented the morale of the crack units, who staged a rebellion back in January.
Paras and marines stationed near Krynky in Kherson province reportedly refused to storm positions held by Ukraine’s army on the left bank of the Dnipro river.
Natalia Gumenyuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s “South” Operational Command, said at the time: “Now the number of Storm Z units have decreased in our direction, and there are more marines and paratroopers. And they consider themselves the elite but they do not want to take part in such attacks.”
In 2023 there were estimated to be around 45,000 paras serving in the Kremlin’s army.
However their numbers along with those of the marines have been so severely depleted they are no longer considered an effective fighting force.
The deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence told The Economist that losses were so great that it would take the Russian army years to build the elite regiments back up to their former strength.
Major-General Vadym Skibitsky said Ukraine’s bravery and sacrifice had given Europe a multi-year head start, removing the immediate threat from Russia’s once feared airborne forces and marine corps for at least a decade.
He questioned, though, whether Europe would repay the favour by keeping Ukraine in the fight. “We will keep fighting. We have no choice. We want to live. But the outcome of the war […] isn’t just down to us,” he said.
On Friday France’s Foreign Minister said his government estimated the Russian army had suffered 500,000 casualties. Stéphane Séjourné noted that at least 150,000 Russian soldiers had been killed since February 2022.
“All of this for what?” he asked. “This can be summed up in two words: for nothing.”
