Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Lieutenant General Oleh Ivashchenko, has said Russia could face serious manpower and military resource shortages by 2028 if the war in Ukraine continues at its current pace.

Ivashchenko, who heads the intelligence directorate in Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, told The Times that Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort could come under increasing pressure as casualties continue to rise.

He said Russia recruits between 1,000 and 1,200 people daily, but the number is being outpaced by battlefield losses. According to Ivashchenko, Russian forces recorded more than 1,400 casualties on each of the two days preceding his remarks, with about 60 per cent of those casualties believed to have been killed.

The intelligence chief also described the mood among Russian troops as poor, saying there was little willingness among soldiers to continue fighting.