According to Kyiv, Russia experienced its highest casualty rate in Ukraine in over two weeks. The latest figures highlight the significant toll on troops and equipment that Moscow is encountering in its full-scale invasion.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russia suffered a significant blow on Saturday with a reported loss of 1,030 troops in a single day. This marks the highest casualty count since March 26, when the same number of losses was recorded. The total number of Russian losses since the start of their full-scale invasion has now reached a staggering 452,760. Earlier this week, the grim milestone of 450,000 Russian losses had already been reached.
According to Ukraine, Russian forces reported the loss of 23 tanks and 47 armored combat vehicles (ACVs) in the past day. This brings the total losses of tanks to 7,169 and ACVs to 13,745 throughout the course of the war.
Kyiv’s estimates of troop losses are described as “approximate” and encompass both fatalities and injuries. These figures reveal a noticeable increase after a week of experiencing losses averaging around 700-800 per day. The last time the casualty count was higher was on March 22, when Kyiv reported 1,050 casualties attributed to Russia.
The record for the highest number of casualties this year stands at 1,290, which was recorded on February 18. However, the overall highest number of casualties since President Vladimir Putin initiated the war over two years ago was 1,380, which occurred on October 19, 2023.
It is difficult to obtain precise data on the number of Russian casualties, but there are alternative estimates that provide lower figures. For instance, the British government’s report on March 3 stated that Russian losses, including both killed and wounded, had reached 355,000.
This week, Ukrainian military intelligence released unverified audio that allegedly captures a Russian soldier in the Belgorod region expressing frustration over significant casualties among his fellow troops, describing the wartime strategy as a “total mess.”
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
According to a recent Telegram post by Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky, the situation on the eastern front has seen a significant deterioration due to escalating Russian attacks in the past few days.
According to Syrsky, Russian forces possess more advanced weaponry and have intensified their offensive operations after the recent presidential election.
The situation around the eastern frontline city of Chasiv Yar, located 12 miles west of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, is currently described as “difficult and tense,” according to his statement.
Syrsky, echoing Ukraine’s plea, emphasized the need for increased Western military support to attain “technical superiority in advanced weaponry,” as the U.S. aid package for Kyiv faced delays in Congress.
“We can only defeat a larger enemy and create favorable conditions for seizing the strategic initiative,” emphasized Syrsky. He also stressed the importance of enhancing the quality of personnel training in Ukraine.
