Russia is losing troops faster than it can recruit them, with nearly 40,000 casualties a month, Western officials say – as Moscow claims Britain and France are preparing to give Ukraine nukes

Russia is losing more troops than it can recruit, with Putin’s forces suffering nearly 40,000 casualties every month, western officials say. 

Despite the devastatingly high casualty count, Russia is only recruiting up to 35,000 troops every month, officials added. 

Over the last four years, Putin’s forces have seen 1.25million of its soldiers killed or injured on the front lines – more than the total sustained by the US during the whole of WW2. 

Russia has lost an estimated 157,841 soldiers, while Ukraine is believed to have lost 81,721. 

Russia’s recruiting strategy of offering bonuses of up to £40,000 to soldiers from impoverished regions of the nation appear to be failing, with analysts questioning how long Putin’s war machine can keep turning. 

Al Carns, the UK’s Armed Forces minister, told the Telegraph: ‘People are realising that it’s a one-way ticket.’

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was looking to launch a third world war, telling the BBC: ‘I believe he has already started it.’

Diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled, and the Russian despot’s spy agency complicated matters by accusing Britain and France of secretly plotting to give Ukraine nuclear weapons.

The SVR alleged London and Paris were were engaged in a clandestine operation to arm Kyiv with more muscle against Moscow by supplying it with a ‘wonder weapon.’

‘Britain and France realise that the developments in Ukraine leave no chance of achieving their much-desired victory over Russia at the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,’ said a statement today from the spy agency.

‘However, the British and French elites are not prepared to accept defeat. It is believed that Ukraine needs to be equipped with “wunderwaffe”.

‘Kyiv would be able to claim more favourable terms for ending the hostilities if it possessed a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called “dirty bomb”.

The Russian intelligence service claimed that Berlin ‘wisely declined to participate in this dangerous adventure’.

The SVR alleged: ‘London and Paris are actively working to resolve the issue of providing Kyiv with such weapons and their delivery systems.

‘This involves the covert transfer of European components, equipment, and technology to Ukraine in this area. The French TN75 small-size warhead from the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile is being considered as an option.’

The allegation for which the SVR gave no evidence is likely Moscow’s latest bid to thwart a peace process overseen by Donald Trump.

‘The British and French recognise that their plans constitute a gross violation of international law, primarily the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and carry the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system.

‘Therefore, the Westerners’ primary efforts are focused on making Kyiv’s acquisition of nuclear weapons appear to be the result of Ukrainian development.

‘Such extremely dangerous plans by London and Paris demonstrate their loss of a sense of reality. They are futilely hoping to avoid responsibility.

‘Moreover, all that is hidden will inevitably be revealed.

‘There are many sensible people in the military, political, and diplomatic circles of Great Britain and France who understand the danger their leaders’ reckless actions pose to the entire world.’