Russian elite military units have suffered severe losses during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reports The National Interest.

Special forces units initially tasked with critical missions, including targeting Ukrainian leadership, sustained devastating losses, particularly during the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive actions in 2022, says the magazine.

“Russian special forces, some of Russia’s most elite military units, have suffered significant losses in Ukraine,” the report states.

The Russian military command had aimed to use these units to secure an easy victory in Ukraine, according to the publication. For instance, in early 2022, as Russian paratroopers stormed the Hostomel airport near Kyiv, special forces were assigned to attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials.

However, the attempt to eliminate Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leadership failed. As a result, Moscow continued deploying elite special forces throughout the war, including in operations near Mariupol, Kherson, Lyman, and Kharkiv.

According to The National Interest, four out of five Russian special forces brigades had suffered substantial losses by the end of summer. One brigade, for instance, had only “125 active soldiers out of the 900 deployed,” indicating a nearly 90% reduction in combat strength for that unit.

Related:

• Meet “Russian disease,” the centuries-old corruption plaguing Ukraine invasion
• Ex-Minister Zagorodnyuk: Ukraine can defeat Russia, but West must commit to total victory
• A realistic victory strategy for Ukraine
• Zelenskyy unveils 5-point ”Victory Plan” to Ukrainian Parliament