Russian military losses hit two‑year high in October Ukraine conflict
The independent Russian portal Agientstwo highlighted the losses suffered by the Russian army in Ukraine this October. Their analysis showed that Ukrainians eliminated more Russian military equipment this month than in any other in the last two years of the war.
1:21 PM EST, November 7, 2024
Reports indicate that in October, Russia lost as many as 695 pieces of military equipment, which were destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or seized by Ukrainian forces. Agientstwo primarily refers to data from the Oryx blog, whose creators track Russian losses based on photos or video footage from the front.
Significant Russian losses in October
Among the equipment Russia lost in October were 253 infantry fighting vehicles, 103 tanks, 41 armored personnel carriers, four aircraft, including two Su-25s and two Su-34s, and a Mi-28 helicopter.
The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is among the Russian aircraft most frequently seen over Ukraine. It is used to support ground forces from the air. This aircraft is over 49 feet long and can reach speeds up to 590 mph. The Russians equally often use the Su-34, a tactical bomber capable of carrying up to 9 tons of weaponry, including various types of aerial bombs, rockets, and cruise missiles.
Ukrainian forces also suffered losses. During this period, they lost 276 units, including 47 armored personnel carriers, 28 infantry fighting vehicles, 21 tanks, and one aircraft (Su-24M).
Comparing data from previous months, there has been a noticeable increase in losses on the Russian side. In September, 547 units were destroyed, 434 in August, 584 in July, and 576 in June. For reference, during the record-breaking October of 2022, the Russians lost as many as 1,032 units due to a successful Ukrainian offensive around Kharkiv.
Separate reports suggest that the increase in these equipment losses is due to heightened Russian offensive activity in Ukraine. Forbes notes that the Kremlin is willing to "trade" equipment and human resources to control Ukrainian land.
Russians on the offensive
Data from late October and early November also indicate that Russia achieved the highest level of offensive actions in the past year. Project DeepState reveals that in the week ending November 3, Russians captured 66 square miles of Ukrainian territory, a slight decrease from the previous week, when they seized 76 square miles.
However, experts cited by The New York Times suggest that in the coming year, Russia may face serious shortages of military equipment and personnel.
