Russians continue to suffer significant losses as they slow down their advance in Ukraine - ISW
www.pravda.com.ua
Tue, 04 Feb 2025 04:38:40 +0200
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War ISW point out that despite the Russian advance in Ukraine, its pace has slowed, while Russian losses remain high.
Source ISW Details Russian troops continued to suffer heavy losses in January 2025 despite a slower pace of advance compared to previous months at the end of 2024.
Ukraines Ministry of Defence reported on 3 February that Russian troops suffered 48,240 casualties in January 2025.
These are more than three Russian motorised rifle divisions, making January the secondhighest month for casualties since Russias fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
ISWs geolocation data shows that Russian forces advanced 498 sq km in Ukraine and Russias Kursk Oblast in January, or approximately 16.1 sq km per day.
Available data suggests that Russian forces suffered approximately 96 casualties per square kilometre of territory gained.
Ukraines Ministry of Defence reported that Russian troops suffered 48,670 casualties in December 2024, the highest monthly casualty rate since the start of Russias fullscale invasion of Ukraine, and ISW estimates that Russian forces gained a total of 593 sq km in December 2024.
Quote The roughly 100squarekilometer decrease in seized territory between December 2024 and January 2025, coupled with a similar monthly casualty rate, indicates that Russian forces are taking the same high level of losses despite achieving fewer territorial advances in the near term.
Details Earlier, ISW noted that the advance of Russian troops slowed down from November 2024 to December 2024.
Quote ISW previously assessed that the Russian military command likely tolerated record levels of personnel casualties from September 2024 through November 2024 to facilitate larger territorial gains, but it remains unclear whether the Russian military command will be willing to sustain such casualties if Russian forces rate of advance continues to decline as Russian forces are advancing on more heavily defended settlements such as Pokrovsk.
To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 3 February Russian forces continued to suffer high losses in January 2025 despite a slower rate of advance as compared with previous months in late 2024.
Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted drone strikes against Russian oil and gas infrastructure in Volgograd and Astrakhan oblasts on the night of 23 February.
Ukrainian forces continue to innovate with drone operations to maintain their technological advantage over Russia and bring about battlefield effects.
The United Nations UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine HRMMU expressed concern about the sharp rise in reports of Russian forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war POWs.
Ukraines CommanderinChief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on 3 February that Ukraine has started implementing organisational reforms to transition the Ukrainian Armed Forces into a corps structure.
Unspecified actors assassinated Armen Sarkisian, the founder of the Arbat Special Purpose Battalion, who has been involved in Russias hybrid activities and invasions of Ukraine since 2014.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Borova, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Borova, Lyman, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and on the Dnipro front.
The Russian government is expanding the federal Time of Heroes programme, which aims to install Kremlinselected veterans into government positions, to occupied Ukraine as part of longterm efforts to integrate occupied Ukraine into Russia.
Support UP or become our patron
Latest news
more news