"Ukraine's strong morale is one reason it has belied early doomsday predictions. Its army has suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties, including between 100,000 and 140,000 fatalities, but retains the will to fight. Russia has reportedly suffered twice as many casualties: 1.2 million, including 219,000 deaths verified through obituaries and probate records."
"During the winter of 202223 Russia repeatedly struck Ukraine's electricity grid, depriving millions of light, heat and even water. This brutal winter has been much worse. Russia launched thousands of drones and missiles to hit cities and power stations. Ukraine doesn't have anywhere near the number of missile defences needed to protect these targets."
"Any visitor to Ukraine will hear some version of this refrain: We have no choice but to fight if we want to survive. No Russian soldier believes his country faces a comparable threat. Higher stakes can bolster morale, as the French and Americans learned in Vietnam."
Ukraine's war against Russia entered its fifth year on February 24, defying widespread predictions of swift defeat. Despite Russia's threefold population advantage, tenfold GDP superiority, and larger military arsenal, Ukraine has maintained strong morale and continued fighting. Ukraine has suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties, while Russia has reportedly suffered twice as many, with estimates reaching 325,000 deaths. Russia has lost approximately 24,000 pieces of equipment. Ukrainian civilians endured brutal winters with systematic attacks on electricity infrastructure, yet remain committed to fighting for survival. Ukrainian drones have fundamentally altered battlefield tactics, preventing Russia from executing preferred concentrated armored operations. The disparity between expected outcomes and actual results reflects Ukraine's resilience and the underestimated importance of morale in warfare.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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