Russia's heavy toll in Ukraine: Futile gains amidst high losses
Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine, making minor territorial gains but suffering heavy losses. Over the past 24 hours, the aggressor has lost approximately 1,290 soldiers, either killed or wounded, and 350 pieces of weaponry, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The General Staff announced on Saturday morning that in the past 24 hours, Russia has lost nine tanks, 27 armoured vehicles, 59 artillery systems, 110 drones, and 115 other vehicles.
Massive losses for Russia. The fight for attrition continues
Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since then, it has been paying a high price for its aggression. It is estimated that the aggressor has lost over 667,000 soldiers in total, nearly 9,000 tanks, 18,000 armoured vehicles, over 19,000 artillery systems, 17,000 drones, 28 ships, and 26,500 vehicles.
According to a report from the Ukrainian Navy on Saturday, "there are currently two enemy ships in the Black Sea carrying Kalibr cruise missiles." The Russians do not have any ships in the Sea of Azov.
Currently, the Russians are not only conducting operations aimed at capturing more territory in Ukraine; the local army also aims to push Ukrainians out of their own lands around Kursk before winter arrives, according to a report from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"Russian forces intensified efforts to displace Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region last Thursday, increasing attacks in the Glushkovo area," the ISW report stated. The authors confirmed that the Russians have encircled Ukrainian positions near Lubimovka in recent days.
"Intensified Russian counterattacks are likely aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region before adverse weather conditions in autumn 2024 and early winter 2024/2025 begin to restrict battlefield manoeuvres," stated the Americans in their report.
Forcing the Ukrainians out of Kursk would free up Russian combat forces for priority offensive operations in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
