Russian losses escalate as drones turn the tide in Ukraine conflict
The Russians are incurring increasing losses on the Ukrainian front, which is becoming a serious challenge for the Kremlin. As "Forbes" reports, citing analysts tracking the losses in equipment on both sides of the conflict, the Russians lost nearly 200 pieces of equipment in one day of the offensive in Donetsk Oblast.
Russia's situation on the Ukrainian front is becoming increasingly difficult. High losses in personnel and equipment are forcing the Kremlin to take increasingly desperate measures. Moving reserves and resorting to obsolete technologies may not be enough to turn the tide of the conflict.
Currently, Russian forces are just 10 kilometres from Pokrovsk, one of the most important logistical points for the entire eastern front. Forbes reports, citing analysts tracking equipment losses, that the Russians lost nearly 200 pieces of equipment in one day.
Last weekend, the Russians experienced the bloodiest 24 hours in the 30-month-long war in Ukraine. On Sunday, independent analyst Andrew Perpetua counted over 180 destroyed, damaged, and abandoned Russian vehicles. The Ukrainian side's losses were much smaller: about 36 vehicles.
Big problem for Russians. Drones are destroying their vehicles
Most of the Russian losses were caused by PVF drones. These are unmanned vehicles equipped with a camera that provides a live feed in real-time until the moment of impact. They are usually small commercial drones modified for military purposes.
Both Ukrainians and Russians attach explosive charges or grenades and bombs to FPV drones.
In the first case, the unmanned aerial vehicle acts as a kamikaze weapon; in the second case, it is used to drop grenades and bombs on enemy equipment. Ukrainians have already proven that such drones can easily carry, for example, RKG-3 anti-tank grenades or PTAB-2.5M bomblets.
For many months, Russia has been conducting a so-called war of attrition, so the enormous losses of Vladimir Putin's army are not surprising. Practically every day, the Russians lose over 1,000 of their people, including both soldiers killed and those seriously wounded.
