On the dead – BBC:

‘In recent months, the typical Russian soldier killed in Ukraine is a 34-year-old convict recruited from prison.’

(…)

‘In February, UK intelligence services estimated 40,000 to 60,000 troops had been killed.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence estimates there are more than 200,000 Russian casualties - but this also includes the wounded.’

(…)

‘He had died on 6 October last year aged 60, in heavy fighting on the approach to Bakhmut - where all of Wagner's forces were engaged at the time.

Anna, who lives in a region just north-east of Moscow, said she remained friends with Nabiev after they had split up: "He was a good person."

But she said he was poor and in need of easy money, so he used to break into garages and steal car parts and other machinery to sell them. That was how he ended up in prison, where he was recruited by Wagner.Anna, who lives in a region just north-east of Moscow, said she remained friends with Nabiev after they had split up: "He was a good person.’

(…)

‘Editorial production by Becky Dale and Joseph Lee. Design and illustrations by Jana Tauschinski and Prina Shah. Development by Alli Schultes, Jack Boreham, Alexander Ivanov and Becky Rush. Testing by Adam Allen and Jerina Jacob.’

Read the article here.

The counting of the dead must remain a mystery, in order to not lower the morale of the people, especially the soldiers.
Here Russia and Ukraine can shake hands.

I vividly remember the NYT counting their dead soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Other NATO-countries did the same, there were also estimates of killed civilians, sometimes referred to as collateral damage. Now, silence.

I’m reading Céline’s ‘Journey to the end of the Night’ – yes, he was an antisemite, but reading this book, at least the first part, together with Remarque’s ‘All quiet on the Western Front’ will give you some insights on what’s happening in eastern Ukraine.

Also, the war will end, probably without gains for neither Ukraine nor Russia, and then Ukraine will become paradise for all those who want to buy illegally or semi-illegally arms. See under: former Yugoslavia.

You need a few tanks? But officially your are not allowed to purchase them. Soon, you will find dealers there more than willing to help you. The client is still king. Maybe it’s already happening.