The Pentagon said in a statement that it would be years before some of President Putin’s most select units were ready for war. Defense officials say Russia is believed to have deployed more than 120 regular battalions (BTGs) in Ukraine, about 65 percent of its total combat power. However, more than “a quarter of these units have now become militarily ineffective,” the State Department said. Each battle formation includes up to 900 soldiers. The briefing added: “Some of Russia’s most select units, including the VDV air force, have suffered the highest
