Russia Rapidly Approaching Grim Losses Milestone: Kyiv

Russia is rapidly approaching a major milestone in its losses of armored personnel vehicles in the war in Ukraine, according to an update from the Ukrainian military on Thursday.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces posts figures on Russia's troop and equipment losses as part of its daily update on Moscow's full-scale invasion of the country, which began on February 24, 2022. It said Russia lost 22 armored personnel vehicles in the past day, bringing the total number to 14,913.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have lost significant amounts of personnel and equipment amid a recent ramped up push by Russia in Ukraine's east to seize territory. Kyiv said this month it had stabilized the situation on the front line after the Kremlin's forces kick-started an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, seizing a number of villages on Ukraine's northeastern frontier.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russian losses during its Kharkiv offensive were eight times higher than Ukraine's. Newsweek could not independently verify the claim.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces also said Russia lost 1,160 soldiers over the past day, bringing the total to 506,260. Moscow has also lost a total of 7,710 tanks, 13,101 artillery systems, 17,849 vehicles and fuel tanks, 815 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 2,222 cruise missiles, 357 military jets, 326 helicopters, and 27 warships in the war, the update said.

Newsweek could not independently verify Kyiv's figures and has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment via email.

Estimates of casualty numbers vary, with the figures offered by Ukraine usually exceeding those of its Western allies. Moscow rarely shares information on the number of its own casualties.

Kyiv similarly does not provide updated information on its own casualties. A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment leaked in April 2023 said that Ukraine had suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, including 15,500 to 17,500 dead.

Russia's Defense Ministry said in its latest update on Wednesday that its military has so far destroyed 605 Ukrainian aircraft, 274 helicopters, 24,770 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,191 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,322 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 9,930 pieces of field artillery and mortars, as well as 22,093 units of special military vehicles.

On May 24, Zelensky told reporters that Russia's offensive in the Kharkiv direction led to "military casualties of one to eight—one Ukrainian to eight Russians."

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed on Wednesday to have intercepted a phone call between a Russian soldier in the Kharkiv region and his mother, during which he complained about battlefield conditions and constant attacks by Ukrainian drones.

"We're hiding now, f*** it. I read all the f****** prayers... Mom, people here have been sitting without water for nine days. They drink their own urine. For me, a basin of water is already a joy," the Russian soldier said, according to the SBU.

Newsweek could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip.

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