The war against Ukraine launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin two and a half years ago continues to produce devastating losses for Russia. Kyiv claimed on August 27 that more than 1,280 Russian troops were either killed or wounded during the prior day alone.
This brings the total Russian military casualties since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, to an alarming 610,100, according to the latest figures released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The impact of these losses extends far beyond just manpower. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have also inflicted considerable damage on Russian military equipment.
As of August 27, 2024, Ukrainian forces have destroyed a staggering 8,563 Russian tanks, along with 16,667 armoured combat vehicles. The scale of destruction also includes 17,495 artillery systems, reflecting the intense and brutal nature of the ongoing conflict.
The air battle has been equally costly for Russia; Ukrainian forces have successfully downed 367 Russian aircraft and 328 helicopters since the conflict began.
Additionally, more than 14,000 Russian operational and tactical drones have been destroyed, highlighting the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defence systems and counter-drone measures.
Missile attacks have also proven disastrous for Russia. Ukrainian forces report the destruction of 2,547 Russian cruise missiles, a significant blow to Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.
The relentless Ukrainian resistance has also led to the destruction of 937 Russian air defence systems, severely crippling Russia’s ability to protect its forces from aerial attacks.
Reports also indicate that Russia’s naval presence in the region has been drastically reduced, with 28 ships or boats and even one submarine destroyed. The loss of these vessels further limits Russia’s operational capabilities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine’s coastline.
Ground operations have been particularly deadly for Russian forces. In the past few days, there have been 148 combat clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders, resulting in significant Russian casualties.
In the Pokrovsk sector alone, nearly 200 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded in a single day, demonstrating the fierce resistance and tactical superiority of the Ukrainian forces.
Despite these significant losses, Russian forces continue their offensive operations. On Monday, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the war, using “more than 100 missiles of various types and around 100 Shahed drones” against various cities and infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Nationwide Russian attacks continued overnight, when Ukrainian air defence systems downed five missiles and 60 attack drones.
