An elite, extremely secretive Russian navy intelligence unit might have misplaced as much as three-quarters of its reconnaissance manpower in Ukraine, in accordance with analysis revealed by the BBC’s Russian service Tuesday.
Like different particular forces items, the precise measurement of the GRU intelligence company’s third Guards Spetsnaz Brigade is classed.
However based mostly on the brigade’s demise toll and sure attrition charge tallied by BBC Russia, the outlet concluded that it might have misplaced 75% of its reconnaissance firm troops.
Total, the outlet stated it has discovered direct and oblique proof from publicly out there sources on 56 troopers from the third Guards Spetsnaz Brigade killed within the seven months since Russia invaded Ukraine.
One useless soldier’s sister advised BBC Russia she believes there might have been extra losses, saying: “Do you anticipate they’ll inform us about them?”
The GRU’s third Guards Spetsnaz Brigade seems to have suffered its highest losses up to now within the newest retreat from jap Ukraine’s key railway hub of Lyman final week.
Citing the troopers’ kin, BBC Russia reported that as much as 9 brigade members died whereas making an attempt to defend in opposition to the Ukrainian forces’ counteroffensive in Lyman.
“Your entire third Spetsnaz Brigade was laid to waste, thrown into the meat grinder,” one soldier’s unnamed relative was quoted as saying in a put up on the Russian social media platform VKontakte.
The unit’s earlier highest demise toll in a single battle identified publicly was within the early days of Russia’s invasion in March, when BBC Russia stated 4 brigade troopers had been killed.
One out of 4 third Guards Spetsnaz Brigade troopers killed below the command of Col. Albert Omarov had been officers, the outlet stated.
The deaths of such troopers are notably problematic for the Russian Armed Forces as a result of they’re very expensive to switch.
Russian state media and pro-Moscow navy bloggers keep away from reporting on the GRU items’ involvement in Ukraine, BBC Russia stated, which means info on reconnaissance troopers’ deaths seems after the actual fact. Specialists cited by the outlet say the particular forces undergo extra losses as a result of they’re pressured to hold out duties outdoors their remit.
Russia claims to have misplaced fewer than 6,000 troops within the seven-month battle with Ukraine, 20 occasions lower than what it claims the Ukrainian navy has misplaced.
BBC Russia’s joint tally with the impartial Mediazona information web site positioned Russia’s demise toll at almost 6,800 troopers by Sept. 25.
