Prof. John Mearsheimer on Russian casualties: These numbers are ridiculous. There's no question that the Russians have suffered a few hundred thousand deaths. I don't deny that for one second. But the idea that your average Russian recruit only lasts somewhere between 20 to 30 hours is, I think it's fair to say, ludicrous. There is no evidence that this is happening. The Russians are moving very slowly and very carefully. The Russians are not engaging in frontal attacks. They're moving forward in a very methodical way, depending very heavily on firepower.