Excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of many deaths in the ranks Russian armed forces forces in Ukraineannounced on Sunday British Ministry of Defense.

“Although Russia has lost up to 200,000 people since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant proportion of these losses are due to non-combat causes,” the British ministry said.

The report cites a recent report by the Russian news network Telegram, which reported an “extremely high” number of alcohol-related incidents, crimes and deaths in the ranks of Russian forces.

“However, because drunkenness is prevalent in much of Russian society, drinking on this scale has for many years been seen as an unofficially acceptable part of military life, even in combat,” the report emphasizes.

The British Ministry listed other main causes of losses in the ranks of the Russian military, not related to hostilities, as well as gun mishandling, traffic accidents and hypothermia. According to him, Russian commanders are likely aware of the widespread abuse of alcohol and consider it especially detrimental to effectiveness on the battlefield.

The ministry has been publishing daily updates since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, based on information gathered by British intelligence. Moscow considers these reports disinformation.

Source: APE/MEB