British intelligence: Nearly 500 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war

About 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war in Ukraine.

This was stated by Anne Keast-Butler, director of GCHQ, the British intelligence agency, equivalent to the American NSA, which deals with cyberattacks and digital espionage and counter-espionage.

According to Keast-Butler, London intelligence data shows that Vladimir Putin is "retreating to the battlefield."

Kiev had previously shown figures more than double that, around one million deaths.

Speaking at an annual threat assessment session, Keast-Butler said Moscow was “escalating its daily hybrid activity” against Europe and was increasingly targeting “civilian infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust.”

She said GCHQ is "working relentlessly" with intelligence and defence partners to "weaken and reduce the Russian threat".

"Our focus is on protecting the data and energy that passes through critical cables and pipelines in and around British waters, and we do this by uncovering the intentions, motives and capabilities of Russia's submarines."

"We are also disrupting Russia's efforts to smuggle Western technology, stopping cyberattacks, and combating reckless sabotage and assassination attempts," she added.

The GeoPost