Russia lost its professional army by fall of 2022 - Ukraine’s top spy

This was stated by the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence (GUR), Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

According to the top intelligence official, Ukraine’s security and defense forces have sealed multiple achievements, including on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea.

"But the most important thing is professional human resources, but this (replenishment - ed.) will take many years, because let's speak the truth: they had lost their entire professional army by the fall of 2022. Now they are fighting using mobilized personnel, convicts, whatever…" Budanov noted.

As Ukrinform reported, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Russian authorities to hide from domestic audiences the actual losses in the war against Ukraine and to find resources for pursuing the war effort.