CIA Director Ratcliffe says Russian front‑line troops survive only 20‑30 minutes

U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told a defense summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania that Russian recruits sent to the front lines in Ukraine now have an average life expectancy of only 20 to 30 minutes. He attributed the extreme lethality to Ukraine’s use of low‑cost, AI‑powered drones that act as highly effective killing machines.

Ratcliffe said the assessment aligns with open‑source reporting and highlighted that Russia’s territorial gains have stalled, with the country occupying roughly 20% of Ukraine. He noted that Russian casualties are staggering – estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies put total deaths at about 450,000 and total casualties at 1.4 million since the invasion began in February 2022. To sustain its forces, Russia has turned to recruiting prisoners and promising African men employment, aiming to avoid a large‑scale mobilization.

The remarks came as Ukraine continues to develop its drone capabilities and negotiate defense agreements with the European Union and other partners, seeking further support for air‑defence systems.