Additional Coverage:
- Russia is losing 1,000 soldiers a day in its relentless ‘meat grinder’ tactics against Ukraine: report (newsbreak.com)
A photograph captured the aftermath of a Russian tank, obliterated by Ukrainian forces, alongside a road in the Lugansk region, as smoke billowed from its remains.
According to a report by The New York Times, Russia is facing a considerable toll on its military forces in Ukraine. Officials have indicated to the publication that as many as 1,000 Russian soldiers are either being killed or wounded each day.
Despite these significant losses, The Times reported that Russia is managing to recruit additional forces to compensate for the casualties incurred.
In May, US, UK, and other Western intelligence agencies disclosed to The New York Times that Russia was experiencing a daily toll of around 1,000 soldiers being killed or injured in Ukraine. This escalation was seen during direct assaults against Ukrainian fortifications.
UK military intelligence noted that the casualty rate soared to 1,200 per day in May, marking the most substantial losses since the conflict’s onset. It estimated that the cumulative number of Russian casualties, both dead and injured, since the invasion began in February 2022, stands at approximately 500,000.
The exact breakdown between those killed and those wounded remains uncertain. Business Insider has reached out to The Ministry of Defence for further details.
Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, estimated in June that the total Russian military casualties were about 350,000.
The surge in reported casualties in May coincides with an increase in Russian military operations in the Kharkiv region, located on Ukraine’s northern border with Russia.
Russian military tactics involve direct, high-casualty offensives, sometimes described as “human wave” or “meat grinder” attacks. Such approaches were notably deployed in the battles for Avdiikva and Bakhmut last year. However, according to US officials speaking to The Times, these tactics are yielding less success currently.
Nevertheless, these same officials indicated that Russia has been successful in replenishing its forces, recruiting between 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers a month, in contrast to Ukraine’s challenges in recruiting new forces.
In February, Ukraine reported approximately 31,000 of its soldiers had been killed since the war’s commencement, a figure Western intelligence officials believe could be considerably higher, The Washington Post reported.
To bolster its ranks, Russia has been offering appealing contracts to new recruits, incorporating thousands of prisoners into its armed forces, and hiring foreign mercenaries.
In September 2022, Russia conscripted 300,000 civilians into military service. According to US officials, another draft may not be immediately necessary, suggesting the current recruitment efforts might suffice for the time being.