Russian recruits survive an average of 20 to 30 minutes after arriving at the front line in Ukraine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said, according to the French outlet Nexta.
Ratcliffe made the remarks at the Defense and Innovation Summit in Pennsylvania, stating that U.S. intelligence assessments align with information available from open sources.
He identified the massive use of low-cost drones equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities by Ukraine as the main reason behind the high casualty rates among Russian troops.
The CIA director assessed that Ukraine’s development and deployment of advanced technologies have provided Kyiv with a battlefield advantage and slowed the Russian military’s advances.
These comments come amid reports of increasing Russian losses on the battlefield during 2026, with drone warfare emerging as one of the dominant factors shaping the conflict.
