UK says 'it's getting harder' for Kremlin to 'isolate' Russian population from war in Ukraine

MADRID, 18 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Intelligence services of the United Kingdom have highlighted this Saturday that it is "increasingly difficult" for the Kremlin to "isolate" the Russian population from the war in Ukraine given the prolongation of the conflict and the "partial mobilization" decreed by the Russian president , Vladimir Putin.

"It is increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to isolate the population from the war in Ukraine," the British Ministry of Defense has indicated on its account on the social network Twitter, where it has pointed to a Russian survey published in December that reflects that more half of those surveyed have a friend or family member who has participated in the offensive.

Thus, he highlighted that Andrei Turchak, leader of the parliamentary group "focused on the so-called special military operation", stated on February 16 that he had submitted a report to Putin, before stressing that "probably" he will address issues such as "social support to the mobilized and their families".

"This issue could be more prominent in case a new mobilization takes place, either openly or tacitly," he explained. "Putin could refer to these matters in his address to the nation on February 21," he said.

British intelligence services indicated on Friday that Russia would have lost between 40,000 and 60,000 soldiers since the start of the invasion, while the number of casualties, including wounded, would range between 175,000 and 200,000. This figure would also include mercenaries from the Wagner Group, who increased their presence since September, coinciding with the "partial mobilization" decree.