Ukraine war live updates: Putin warned of arrest if he attends summit; Russia had 100,000 casualties in 5 months, U.S. says
Russian President Vladimir Putin was warned he could be arrested if he attends a BRICS summit in South Africa in August.
Authorities in the country warned that would be compelled to detain the president following a warrant for his arrest issued in March by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Meanwhile, the White House on Monday estimated that Russia’s military has suffered 100,000 casualties in the last five months of fighting in the area around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and other areas.
On Sunday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the figures, based on U.S. intelligence estimates, included more than 20,000 dead Russian soldiers. Half of the fatalities were fighters from the Wagner Group private military company, CNBC reported.
Military logistical problems “remain at the heart of Russia’s struggling campaign” in Ukraine, according to the latest intelligence update from the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence.
In a post on Twitter, the ministry commented on recent reports on Russian military-linked social media accounts claiming that Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, had been dismissed.
Mizintsev held the military logistics portfolio, and had only been in post for eight months, the ministry noted.
“Mizintsev’s sacking was not immediately confirmed, but speculation about his future highlights how logistics problems remain at the heart of Russia’s struggling campaign in Ukraine. Russia does not have enough munitions to achieve success on the offensive,” the U.K. noted in its daily intelligence update.
“Paucity of ammunition drives internal divisions, most notably between Russia’s Ministry of Defence and Wagner Group,” the ministry noted.
“Russia continues to give the highest priority to mobilizing its defense industry, but it is still failing to meet wartime demands. While Russia’s political leaders persist in demanding success on the battlefield, Russia’s logistics professionals are stuck in the middle,” the ministry added.