NATO Chief Mark Rutte Warns Young Russians of Deadly Risks in Ukraine War
Mark Rutte's Warning to Young Russians
Direct Message to Russian Youth and Families
KYIV, June 3 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday warned young Russians that they would probably die if they sign up to join Russia's war in Ukraine.
"You are being sold a raw deal," Rutte said during a press conference in Kyiv, in remarks he directly addressed to "young Russians and their families".
Risks and Conditions for Russian Recruits
"Men like you who join the fight - you won't be trained. Equipment they'll provide you with is substandard. There is a very high chance you'll die or be wounded while you're out there," he said.
"And odds are, that if you are wounded, you will be left to suffer in the mud and die."
Russian Losses in the Ukraine War
Staggering Casualties
Rutte said Russia was incurring "absolutely staggering" losses in Ukraine, where he said more than 30,000 Russian soldiers died every month - matching figures he has cited before.
Comparison to Soviet Losses in Afghanistan
"This means losing more men in one month than the Soviet Union did in 10 years in the 1980s in Afghanistan," the NATO chief said.
"That's not abstract," he said. "That will probably be you."
Russia's Official Position and NATO's Role
Russia, which officially describes the conflict as a "special military operation" and promises recruits large salaries, has long argued that NATO's eastward enlargement since the end of the Cold War — and the prospect of Ukraine joining the alliance — pose an existential threat to its security.
(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
