Open-source reporting indicates a significant increase in the number of prosthetic limbs being issued in russia. Based on data cited from russia's Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, russians with disabilities reportedly received 152,500 artificial limbs in 2024, a 53% increase on 2023, including a 75% increase in the issuance of arm prosthetics. The number of wheelchairs issued was also reported to have increased by 18% in the same period, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
Russian media outlet Verstka has previously reported that injured russian soldiers with amputated limbs had been left waiting for extended periods for required prosthetics.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Over Half of North Korean Troops Deployed to russia's Kursk Region Have Likely Become Casualties
Russia is almost certainly failing to provide necessary combat medical treatment at the front line, which in turn contributes to a greater number of serious long-term injuries amongst russian soldiers. The significant rise in the numbers of russian men with disabilities, as well as wounded personnel more broadly, will almost certainly have a detrimental long-term impact on both medical and social services in russia.
As Defense Express previously reported, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces have highly likely sustained more than 6,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, russia.
The total casualties amount to more than half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to Kursk region. Open-source reports suggest the DPRK has subsequently deployed limited numbers of additional troops to Kursk. Significant DPRK casualty rates have almost certainly been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Up to Half a Million russian Troops Are Dead, Missing, or Permanently Wounded
