Putin is leading Russia into a demographic catastrophe, — The Telegraph

Moscow’s caution means it has to release prisoners, including murderers and rapists, to fill its army and mercenary groups like Wagner. With numbers dwindling, they’re even turning to women’s prisons, though women only make up 4% of the Russian army. The ongoing full-scale invasion has worsened Russia's demographic crisis, with deaths surpassing births since 2000. Around 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, highlighting the severity of the situation. Unlike the Soviet Union, which had a larger and more diverse population, Russia is struggling in its military efforts. The Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan in the 1980s shows that having a large army isn’t always enough to win a war.