United States Department of Defense's Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander (pictured left) estimated on Friday that half of Russia's main battle tank stock was lost either in combat in Ukraine or was captured by Kiev's military.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security, Wallander also noted that Russia has suffered "tens of thousands of casualties" in Ukraine and that its "conventional, especially ground force capabilities have been significantly degraded" but underlined that its operations around Bakhmut show it is "learning how to adapt" tactically and operationally.
"Russia retains a defense industrial base" but is producing at a lower level due to sanctions and is turning to partners such as Iran to overcome those issues, the US official claimed. Moscow fields a "substantial air force" and its naval capabilities are "pretty intact," she stressed.
