Russia Deploys New Troops Amid Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

Ukraine Officials Report Decline in Russian Military Strength

Top Ukrainian officials have stated that Russia’s military is experiencing difficulties, citing independent estimates suggesting a decline in the country’s economy. According to Oleksandr Syrskii, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, the country has gained the upper hand in its conflict with Russia, as Ukrainian offensive operations now outnumber Russian assaults.

Syrskii reported that since the beginning of 2026, Russia has suffered significant losses, with a total of 141,500 personnel killed or wounded. The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service believes that Russia is struggling to replenish these losses, citing a daily recruitment rate of 800-930 soldiers, resulting in a net decrease in battlefield strength.

In response to the decline in military strength, Russia has increased sign-up bonuses for citizens in certain regions, including the Transnistrian region of Moldova. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is attempting to mobilize an additional 100,000 soldiers.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Russia’s economy is experiencing difficulties, with a $78.4 billion deficit in the first four months of the year. The service attributed this decline to a decrease in oil revenues, which fell by 38.3 percent.

Ukraine has also scaled up its attacks on Russian refineries and oil export terminals, depriving Moscow of windfall profits from high oil prices. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Russia’s production cuts limited its ability to take full advantage of the Gulf war, resulting in a decline in oil exports.

The affected refineries account for a quarter of Russia’s refining capacity, and Ukraine has hit multiple targets across 16 refineries since January, causing significant disruptions to Russian oil production.

Source: Al Jazeera