Russia's staggering losses: A turning point in Ukraine war
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has suffered over 600,000 casualties (killed and wounded), and September has become the bloodiest month in history, reports "The New York Times," citing Pentagon data. American officials have also provided estimates concerning Kyiv's losses, which have been closely guarded.
According to the United States, Russia's losses in the war currently amount to about 615,000 people. This figure includes 115,000 killed and 500,000 wounded soldiers.
Estimated Ukrainian losses
The Pentagon has also estimated the losses of Kyiv's forces. As "NYT" notes, Ukrainian officials strictly protect data on losses, even from the Americans. However, one official stated that Ukraine's Armed Forces have lost over 300,000 people – 57,500 killed and 250,000 wounded.
In February 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 31,000 Ukrainian servicemen have lost their lives in the war with Russia. This was the first and so far the only official statement regarding the losses on the front line.
"War of attrition"
American officials attribute the high number of Russian casualties to the ongoing "war of attrition," where each side tries to exhaust the other by inflicting maximum losses, hoping to break the enemy's ability and will to continue the fight.
"I think we’ll continue to see high losses on the Ukrainian side," said a senior U.S. military official.
American and British military analysts estimate that Russian casualties average a "record" 1,271 people daily. Simultaneously, Russia recruits between 25,000 to 30,000 new soldiers monthly, nearly matching its losses. This allows the Russian army to continue sending waves of troops to Ukrainian positions, hoping to suppress them and break through the trench lines.
American officials also mentioned that dictator Vladimir Putin is attempting to avoid mass mobilization, which would be "deeply unpopular domestically." Instead, American officials said that Russia has offered significant bonuses and other incentives to encourage volunteer soldiers to avoid large-scale mobilization.
"We’re just watching very closely how long that stance can actually be one that he can maintain," stated a senior Pentagon official.
Unprecedented offensive pace
At the same time, in August and September, Russia's Armed Forces advanced in the Donetsk region of Ukraine "at a pace not seen since 2022" reported "The Washington Post."
At that time, Ukrainian soldiers told the newspaper that the Russian army was advancing "with speed and aggression not seen since the full invasion in 2022." This is related to Russia's new tactics. Just a few months ago, Putin's soldiers were storming fortifications in groups of 10-20 soldiers, and now in groups of just four. This minimizes their detection.
Kyiv used this tactic during the counteroffensive last fall. The difference is that the Russian forces outnumber the Ukrainian Armed Forces in terms of artillery, drones, and soldiers.
