Russian Losses of Artillery Systems, Prized Equipment Hit Record Highs

Data sourced from the Armed Forces of Ukraine suggest that Russian artillery and special equipment losses have hit record highs.

Ukrainian reports indicate that in July Russia lost 1,520 artillery systems and in August lost 1,517.

Back in June, Ukrainian officials reported that June was Russia's worst month for artillery losses in the war so far, with 1,415 Russian artillery systems destroyed—records since surpassed, according to subsequent updates from July and August.

Russian special equipment losses in August were 278, and in July were 265. In June they were 267. By comparison, the month with the next highest figures was March 2024 with 215.

If accurate, these latest reports would bring the total number of Russian artillery losses since the 2022 invasion to 17,646, and the total number of special equipment losses to 2,993.

Kyiv also claims that over the same period, Russia has suffered 617,600 personnel losses. However, Russia does not normally disclose its military losses, and military analysts are skeptical of reports released by both Ukraine and Russia.

Accompanying a post from Ukraine's Defense Ministry on the latest figures was a quote from American endurance runner Dean Karnazes which read: "Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up."

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

The announcement of the latest figures comes as analysts have suggested that Ukraine's ongoing incursion into the Kursk region may be slowing Russia's advance.

A weekend report by the Institute for the Study of War said "operational pressures from the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast are impacting Russian operations in every sector throughout the theater."

"The Russian military command may have redeployed limited elements intended to reinforce Russia's priority offensive operation in the Pokrovsk direction to defend against the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast," the ISW reported.

However, though the incursion caught Russia and Ukrainian allies off guard, Russian President Vladimir Putin's seemingly sluggish response could mean Moscow is instead focused on other front-line opportunities.

The ISW previously warned that Russian forces have continued to make "significant tactical advances" southeast of the Donetsk city of Pokrovsk, an important rail and road hub for Ukraine's troops.

"Putin is not diverting forces from the axis attacking toward Pokrovsk," said Nico Lange, chief of staff for Germany's defense ministry until 2022.

"He is trying to use forces from somewhere else, or he is just saying, 'OK let's deal with Kursk later—but now Pokrovsk is more important," he told Newsweek.

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