Re: Requested report of Russian losses in Chechenia

[B2431]

>From: (Michael Petukhov)
>Date: 2/5/2004 3:02 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>http://lenta.ru/vojna/2004/02/04/poteri/
>
>in russian
>
>Summary; Russian army representative told that 463 servicemen killed
>in 2002 in Chechenya. The same number for 2003 is 263 men. It was
>noted that this year there are weeks when nobody killed and
>nobody wounded at all. During last year total number of russian
>troops in Chechenya has been decreased from 53,000 to 31,000.
>This number includes 20000 servicemen of one army division (#42)
>and one brigade of VV deployed in Chechenya on permanent
>basis and which will stay forever. There is no active fighting
>going on in Chechenya, although the source said that SPETZNAZ units
>continue improving their tactics of antipartizan war in effective
>operations, the subject of big intel interest from the west. He noted also
>that during 2003 totally 971 russian army servicemen died due to all
>reasons. Thus war in Chechenya is not a primary reason any more.
>
>It was noted also that according to London based The International
>Institute for Strategic Studies, IISS Russian losses in chechnya
>are increasing every year. For instance according to that source
>our losses (it was not stated but I hope including wounded and
>sick) between 08.2002 and 08.2003 were 4749 service men.
>
>I know someone would prefer to believe that crap. Good for you.
>Frankly I have nothing against that.
>
>Michael
>
Compared to some of the whopper you have told us the IISS numbers are probably
more accurate. I hear the Checyans have doubled their Army to 4 Girls Scouts
whould could explain why the Russians have lost so many men.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[tadaa]

> Compared to some of the whopper you have told us the IISS numbers are
probably
> more accurate. I hear the Checyans have doubled their Army to 4 Girls
Scouts
> whould could explain why the Russians have lost so many men.

Kinda like Iraq then?

[Jarg]

"tadaa" > wrote in message ...

> > whould could explain why the Russians have lost so many men.
>
> Kinda like Iraq then?
>
>

Not really.

Iraq's population according to the CIA is 24,683,313 (July 2003 est.)

As of a survey in March 2000, the general population estimates for the
Republic of Chechnya ranged from 300,000 to 450,000

That means the US military is dealing with a population approximately 54
times that of Chechnya.

Even if the Russian figures were correct, unlikely given the lack of free
press for verification and the proven history of understated casualties from
the Russian government, they would indicate a much higher attritional rate
than the US in Iraq, inflicted by a much smaller population. Not surprising
given the relative inferiority of the Russian military.

Jarg

[tadaa]

> > > whould could explain why the Russians have lost so many men.
> >
> > Kinda like Iraq then?
> >
> >
>
> Not really.

Well Russians are losing men to islamic fighters and fighters who just want
Russia out and USA is losing men to islamic fighters and fighters who just
want USA out.
Kinda same I'd say.

[Jarg]

"tadaa" > wrote in message ...
> > > > whould could explain why the Russians have lost so many men.
> > >
> > > Kinda like Iraq then?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Not really.
>
> Well Russians are losing men to islamic fighters and fighters who just
want
> Russia out and USA is losing men to islamic fighters and fighters who just
> want USA out.
> Kinda same I'd say.
>
>

In that sense yes, though the Chechens figters want independence from
Russia. Iraqi fighters seem to want a return of the Bathist party to power.
So very different motives.

Jarg