"Russian Commander Confirms Over 8,500 Paratroopers Wounded in Ukraine Conflict"

The commander of Russia's Airborne Forces, Mikhail Teplinsky, admitted in a video message that over 8,500 Russian paratroopers have been wounded while fighting in Ukraine. He stated that more than 5,000 wounded paratroopers returned to the front after treatment, and over 3,500 refused to leave the front line at all. The video was later taken down from the state-run broadcaster's website. Western intelligence estimates suggest that Russia's losses in the conflict range from 40,000 to 60,000 deaths and up to 200,000 casualties, while a recent analysis by Russian media outlets and a German scientist indicates that around 47,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the invasion in February 2022.