2026-02-16 | UPDATES #133 | Russian losses now outpacing recruitment (again) — and why Moscow is leaning harder on foreign fighters. The military math in Moscow does not add up – the tally between bodies in, bodies out. The difference between vodka fueled recruits and sunflower fodder. And for a war being fought at drone-speed and trench-distances, that’s arithmetic Putin can’t spin. Multiple streams of reporting and official claims over the last week — capped by fresh remarks out of Munich — point to the same brutal conclusion: Russia is bleeding manpower faster than it can refill the trenches, and it’s increasingly padding the gap with foreign fighters — some recruited under false pretenses, some coerced, some simply disposable. Let’s unpack what we know, what we can’t independently verify, and why the Kremlin’s recruitment logic is starting to look less like “strategic endurance” and more like a meat-processing plant with a military payroll department attached. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: The Straits Times (via Bloomberg), 16 Feb 2026, “Russia’s losses in Ukraine boosting reliance on foreign fighters, Britain says.” Bloomberg, 15–16 Feb 2026, “Russia’s Losses Boost Reliance on Foreign Fighters, UK Says.”Ukrinform (citing Bloomberg), 15 Feb 2026, “Russia’s losses increase its reliance on foreign fighters.” AP News, 13 Feb 2026, “Ukraine says 2 Nigerians fighting for Russia found dead in Luhansk after drone strike.” The Kyiv Independent, 12 Feb 2026, “Russian losses exceeded recruitment for second month in a row, Ukraine says.” Ukrainska Pravda (Eng.) (citing Bloomberg), 12 Feb 2026, “Russian losses in January exceeded number of new recruits.” Al Jazeera, 13 Feb 2026, casualty/recruitment reporting and Syrskyi Telegram quote.EuroMaidan Press, 13 Feb 2026, Brovdi drone-verified loss/recruitment discussion (context and claims).Reuters, 14 Jan 2026, “Ukraine’s new defence minister vows innovation…” (Fedorov appointment background). Ukraine Ministry of Defence (official bio page), “Mykhailo Fedorov” (appointment details). NATO transcript, 12 Feb 2026, remarks with Ukraine Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Financial Times, 10 Feb 2026, “Russian army casualties in Ukraine surge” (attrition context).----------