Russia’s army is sustaining record breaking casualties, as the slaughter on the frontlines continues unabated.
Putin’s generals have ramped up their attacks on the battlefield, as they seek a decisive breakthrough.
A new front was opened in the Kharkiv region back in May, as the Kremlin looked to press home its advantage in troop numbers and weapon supplies.
After initial gains, Ukraine’s forces hit back and stopped the Russian advance in its tracks.
Fighting has continued all along the 620-mile frontline – from north to south and east to west – as both sides gain and lose territory in a seemingly endless to-and-fro.
In its latest battlefield report, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War confirmed that Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Kupyansk and Svatove, while Putin’s army advanced near Kreminna, Toretsk and Avdiivka.
Russia’s army, however, continues to sustain a staggering number of casualties, as its commanders throw their troops at heavily defended Ukrainian positions.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence said the number of Russian soldiers injured or killed reached new highs over the course of May and June.
They wrote: “The average daily Russian casualties (killed or wounded) in Ukraine throughout May and June 2024, increased to conflict high of 1262 and 1163 respectively.
“In total Russia likely lost (killed or wounded) in excess of 70,000 personnel over the past tow months.”
The MoD experts said Russia’s decision to open a new front in the Kharkiv region and maintain the same rate of offensive actions in other areas of the theatre of war were the principal reasons for the high casualties.
Poor training of Russian troops and Ukraine’s resolute defence meant Putin’s generals have failed to exploit any tactical successes they achieved.
The MoD anticipates further substantial Russian losses over the course of the long summer.
“Russia’s casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day over the next two months as Russia continues to try and overmatch Ukrainian positions with mass,” they said.
French and British officials estimate that around 500,000 Russians had been severely injured or killed by May, since the outbreak of the war.
An analysis by the Economist magazine estimates that Russia could have lost as over 700,000 soldiers – killed or injured.
