The Ukrainian military has launched a new phase in its counteroffensive, and there is fierce fighting in several areas.
For the time being, Russian forces continue to stall the Ukrainians, but the cost has been extremely high.
Casualties and Combat Medicine in Ukraine
The fighting on the ground is intense, and both sides are taking significant casualties in the process.
Over the last 24 hours, the Russian military lost approximately 500 men killed, wounded, or captured. In addition, the Russian forces lost more than 50 heavy weapons systems.
Despite the renewed Ukrainian counteroffensive and the heavy fighting taking place along several parts of the contact line, the rate of Russian losses remains relatively low. For example, on days when the Russian military was attacking, Moscow could lose up to 1,000 men each day. If Ukrainian forces manage to achieve an operational breakthrough, Russian losses are likely to skyrocket.
On the other side, the Ukrainian military keeps a tight informational lid on its losses, but estimates are that it is losing a couple hundred troops every day. However, there is a key difference in the losses the two militaries suffer.
In general, Ukrainian forces sustain more wounded than killed. Because of their better combat medicine, they are able to save a lot of soldiers who would die if they were fighting for the opposite side. Indeed, the Russian military is notorious for its bad combat medicine. Footage from the ground shows Russian troops with World War Two-era tourniquets and poorly administered first aid.
There are several examples of Ukrainian soldiers who were wounded in the fighting, were saved by their medics, recovered in the hospital, and came back to fight again. This process is extremely important, as it maintains important combat experience within the ranks that can be passed down to new recruits during basic training or on the front.
Overall Russian Casualties
On day 525 of the conflict, Russian forces are struggling to defend against the Ukrainian counteroffensive, and their losses are high.
Overall, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claimed that as of Tuesday, Ukrainian forces have killed and wounded approximately 246,690 Russian troops. They also claim they have destroyed 322 fighter, attack, bomber, and transport jets; 311 attack and transport helicopters; 4,216 tanks; 4,839 artillery pieces; 8,205 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles; 699 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems; 18 boats and cutters; 7,324 vehicles and fuel tanks; 462 anti-aircraft batteries; 4,027 tactical unmanned aerial systems; 718 special equipment platforms, such as bridging vehicles, and four mobile Iskander ballistic missile systems; and 1,347 cruise missiles shot down by the Ukrainian air defenses.
More than 17 months into the war, the Russian military has lost more than its entire initial invasion force. A “special military operation” that was supposed to last from three days to two weeks has proven to be a nightmare for Russian President Vladimir Putin. With the casualties continuing to pile up every day, the Kremlin is stuck, and victory is not in sight.
A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
From 19FortyFive
