After three years of the full-scale invasion, russia’s land forces have been radically altered by the pressures of carrying out operations in Ukraine. Pre-invasion attempts to build a modern, professional force capable of carrying out complex operations have been reversed by substantial losses. Russia is now reliant on mass over quality to prosecute operations against Ukraine, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Russia’s personnel casualties of over 860,000 killed and wounded have undermined russia’s force quality. Most personnel currently serving in the russian military have received minimal training, and russian commanders use basic tactics to make advances, despite the associated high casualty rates.
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Russia has lost at least 3,750 main battle tanks and 8,400 armoured vehicles. Large stockpiles of tanks and armoured vehicles, a legacy of the Soviet Union, have been the only means for russia to be able to replenish these major losses.
Despite the costs imposed on its land forces, russian forces have been able to impose constant pressure on Ukrainian defences. Russian territorial advances in Ukraine accelerated through 2024, although have slowed in early 2025. Continued attacks have been underpinned by russian leadership’s tolerance for casualties, and russia’s land forces’ quantitative overmatch relative to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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