Russia “is done” in Ukraine as an expert pinpoints the moment Vladimir Putin could run out of men to throw into the war.
Fighting in the country rumbles on as Russian forces continue their offensive in the Kharkiv region.
In 2023, Moscow threw thousands of men into the fight in order to take the tactically important towns of Avdiivka and Bakhmut – the latter becoming known as the ‘meat-grinder’.
Ukraine and Western allies have said that Russia has suffered as many as 500,000 casualties in the war.
Expert Peter Zeihan says this figure is “absolutely accurate”, adding that the rate of casualties could see Russia run out of men in eight years.
READ MORE: Putin issued ceasefire plea to Ukraine for one major reason – expert
He told Times Radio: “The half million number is absolutely accurate. Keep in mind, Russia had 8million men in their 20s at the start of the war. If they have lost half a million, and a million fled the country, that leaves them with 6.5million bodies to throw at this problem.
“To be perfectly blunt, the Russians have yet to fully mobilise…they haven’t really got into the core of what they are capable of.
“At this rate, there is no way the Russians can keep this up for another 8 years. I know that sounds like a long time. It is, but the Russians never fight short wars.
“If they do this, this is Russia‘s last war. When this is one one way or another, Russia is done.”
The extent to which Russia‘s soldiers are suffering losses is shown by the fact some are speaking out.
Speaking in a video message, Anton Andreev, a Russian soldier from the fifth company, said: “They just chop us up. We are sent under machine guns, under drones in daylight, like meat. And commanders just shout ‘forward and forward.”
He added: “I don’t know if I will get out of this or not, but I need to say this to honour the memory of those who died like meat here because of certain individuals.
“You walk through the street, and everything seems to be fine,” he continued. “But then you get caught up in a massacre. During the first night, half the company immediately died.”