The Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre believes that Russia will be able to replace its human losses in Ukraine through a new recruitment, allowing it to sustain the war at the previous pace for a considerable period.

As ERR quotes Colonel Margo Grosberg, the head of the Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre, even though Russia may not have as strong reserves as the Ukrainians, it will be able to recruit approximately 190,000 additional personnel as part of the announced recruitment in the armed forces, starting from April 1.

The Russian leadership aimed to attract 400,000 people to the army, but even half of that number will be sufficient to compensate for the losses incurred up to now. According to Estonia's assessments, Russia has lost between 130,000 and 140,000 military personnel as fatalities or severely injured during the war.

These estimations are significantly lower than, for example, by the UK Ministry of Defence, which in early July assessed Russian losses at 220,000 killed and wounded.

"If they manage to recruit another 190,000 people by the end of the year, it will enable them to replenish the losses, meaning the war will continue. At the same time, Russia's political leadership can avoid declaring mobilisation, as they did in September of last year. With such recruitment rates, they can maintain the status quo, as they have done throughout this year," said Grosberg.

Previously, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán once again urged Ukraine and Russia to negotiate and stop the war, and repeated the propaganda claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the West, which is going to "fight to the last Ukrainian soldier."