Top US General Says Russian Military Casualties in War in Ukraine Topped 100,000

General Mark A. Milley. (Wikimedia Commons/US Secretary of Defense)

JAKARTA - The top US general estimates that more than 100,000 Russian troops have died, both dead and wounded, in the war in Ukraine, but says the Kyiv casualties may have been of the same level.

The estimate, made by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, could not be independently confirmed.

But General Milley's remarks offered the highest US casualty estimate to date in the nearly nine-month-old conflict, coming as Ukraine and Russia face a potential winter lull in fighting, which experts say could offer an opportunity for some kind of negotiation.

Asked about the prospects for diplomacy in Ukraine, General Milley noted the initial refusal to negotiate in World War I, adding to human suffering and causing millions of people to die.

"So when there's an opportunity to negotiate when peace can be reached, seize the moment", General Milley told the Economic Club of New York.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia announced the withdrawal of its troops from the western bank of the Dnipro River near the strategic southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, in a significant setback for Moscow and a potential turning point in the war.

Some experts say the latest setback for Moscow could allow Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength. Meanwhile, others argue Russia may be using negotiations to buy time, to rearrange and repair its forces for a new spring offensive.

Gen Milley said early indicators showed Russia was following through with its withdrawal from Kherson. But he cautioned that the process could take some time to complete.

"It won't take a day or two, it will take days and maybe even weeks to pull troops south of the river", General Milley said.

It is known, there are about 20 thousand - 30 thousand Russian troops stationed north of the Dnipro River.

The United States and its NATO allies have stopped direct intervention in Ukraine, but are arming, advising, and enabling its military to defend Kyiv against the invading Russian army.

General Milley said the conflict so far has turned 15 million to 30 million Ukrainians into refugees and possibly killed 40,000 Ukrainian civilians.

"You see more than 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and injured. The same is possible on the Ukrainian side. A lot of human suffering", Milley said.

Despite the high casualty toll, US officials say Moscow is unable to achieve its goals in Ukraine, raising questions about how long Russia will be able to sustain an invasion that has destroyed part of its mechanized ground forces, depleting its artillery stockpile.