NATO and intelligence officials warn of rising Russian military losses and global instability

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has reported that Russia is suffering massive military losses, estimating that approximately 43,000 Russian soldiers are killed or seriously wounded every month. Rutte noted that these figures are staggering when compared to historical conflicts, such as the United States losing nearly 60,000 people over 14 years in Vietnam.

Despite these losses, Rutte warned that Russia is rapidly expanding its defense industry, utilizing roughly 12 percent of its national income and nearly half of its state budget for defense. He cautioned against being naive, noting that Russia has transitioned much of its civilian industry to war production, similar to the mobilization seen during World War II.

In a separate assessment, outgoing Norwegian Intelligence Service chief Nils Andreas Stensønes stated that the world has become significantly more dangerous. Stensønes confirmed that his agency had warned the Norwegian government of Russia's full-scale invasion plans as early as the autumn of 2021. He emphasized that the conflict has evolved into a war of attrition and noted that Vladimir Putin's intentions to maintain political control over Ukraine remain unchanged.