The total number of russian casualties (killed and wounded) since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 has now likely reached 500,000. Russian losses have continued at a high level in 2024, and in May average russian personnel casualties were over 1,200 per day – the highest reported since the start of the war, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
The elevated casualty rate is highly likely a reflection of russia’s ongoing attritional offensive which is being conducted across a wide front. It is highly likely that most russian forces receive only limited training, and they are unable to carry out complex offensive operations. As a result, russia employs small-scale but costly wave attacks in an effort to weaken Ukrainian defenses.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Analyzes Why russia Cancels 2024 Military Competition
Russia continues to recruit additional forces to sustain this approach. However, the need to continuously replenish front line personnel will almost certainly continue to limit russia’s ability to generate higher capability units.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Reveals What New Instructions Will Be Given to russian Forces
