Russia loses ‘astronomical’ 70,000 troops in 60 days

Russia has lost over 70,000 troops in the past two months, according to British military intelligence.

The Ministry of Defence reported that heavy losses are expected to continue as Russia attempts to make gains along the front lines in Ukraine.

"During May and June 2024, average daily Russian casualties (killed and wounded) reached conflict highs of 1,262 and 1,163 respectively," the MoD stated. "In total, Russia likely lost over 70,000 personnel in the past two months."

Russia has made slow progress in eastern Ukraine while Kyiv's forces struggle with shortages of manpower and ammunition. In May, Moscow opened a new front with a cross-border offensive into Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region.

A senior NATO official described the losses as "astronomical" during a briefing at the alliance's summit in Washington DC this week. "Russia likely suffered losses of almost 1,000 people a day in May," the source said.

Although the offensive was brief, it stretched Ukrainian resources, allowing Russia to make further gains in the Donetsk region. However, it also strained Russian resources, according to the MoD.

"The increase in losses reflects Russia's new front in the Kharkiv region while maintaining the same rate of operations elsewhere along the front," the update said. "Despite this, an effective Ukrainian defense and a lack of Russian training limit Russia's ability to exploit any tactical successes."

The MoD added: "Russia's casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day over the next two months as it continues to try to overcome Ukrainian positions with mass."

Western analysts have noted that Russia's use of small assault units has prevented them from making substantial gains or exploiting breakthroughs in Ukraine's defensive lines. Moscow's forces have repeatedly made probing attacks with small infantry units to avoid heavy losses from more mechanized assaults.

"These tactics can yield incremental gains, but they are poorly suited to achieving operationally significant breakthroughs. Larger assaults have proven costly to Russian forces, which cannot sustain the equipment losses seen earlier in Avdiivka," said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment.

Following a recent field research trip to Ukraine, Kofman said that while Ukraine faces tough months ahead, the battlefield situation is improving. "Ukraine's manpower, fortifications, and ammunition situation is steadily improving. Russian forces are advancing in Donetsk and likely to make further gains, but they have not been able to turn the Kharkiv offensive into a major breakthrough."