Russian losses in terms of tanks, armored patrol vehicles (APVs), and vehicles and fuel tanks are reaching new heights as the war in Ukraine hits 986 days, Kyiv reported.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced on X, formerly Twitter, that Russian losses in tanks since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022 were almost 10,000. Its APV losses were almost 20,000, and its vehicles and fuel tank losses were almost 30,000.
In the past week, Russia has lost 10,660 soldiers, 87 tanks, 179 APVs, 453 vehicles and fuel tanks, and more, according to data from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As Moscow’s losses reach new grim milestones, Russian President Vladimir Putin has found ways to make up for the loss of military personnel and equipment as the war wages on.
Uncredited, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/Associated Press
Newsweek contacted the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for comment via email.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Russia lost 10 tanks, 20 APVs, and 78 vehicles and fuel tanks in the past day, adding to totals of 9,224, 18,612 and 28,411, respectively.
Other Russian losses for November 7 included 1,400 personnel, 24 artillery systems, 42 unmanned aerial vehicles and eight pieces of special equipment.
In the X post listing the Russian combat losses, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense included a quote by the American author H. Jackson Brown: “You either make dust or eat dust.”
Russian losses are hitting new heights quickly. Data from the Ukrainian Armed Forces found that tank losses increased in May, after spiking in October of last year.
Additionally, losses of APVs have also reached new heights since last year, spiking in May and October of this year.
The Russian losses of vehicles and fuel tanks, referred to in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ data as cars and cisterns, have been the most dramatic, increasing exponentially from March of this year onward.
Russia also reached its third-highest day for losses of troops within a single day on October 25 after losing 1,630 personnel, and Russian losses of equipment reached new heights on November 5.
Despite heavy losses, Russian troops have made several advancements along the front line in the Donetsk region, southeast of Kupiansk and northwest of Kreminna on Tuesday due to losses of Ukrainian troops.
These advancements follow North Korea’s deployment of soldiers to fight alongside the Russian forces on the front line on Tuesday, with an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 soldiers present.
Kyiv’s Defense Minister has also said that the North Korean troops deployed to the front lines have been “disguised” as Russian troops from the eastern Siberian region of Buryatia when engaging in combat with Ukrainian soldiers.