In 2024 alone, Russia suffered over 150,000 military personnel killed, significantly exceeding losses from 2022 and 2023. Total Russian losses for 2024 surpassed 434,000, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. This represents a dramatic increase in casualties compared to previous years of the conflict. Syrskyi emphasized that Russian losses vastly outnumber those of Ukraine.
Intense fighting continues across the Ukrainian front, particularly near Pokrovsk. In recent battles near Makhnovka, Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian forces inflicted significant losses on the Russian army. These losses included up to a full battalion of infantry, comprised of both Russian paratroopers and North Korean soldiers. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi confirmed this substantial defeat to President Zelenskyy. The report highlights the heavy toll the conflict is taking on Russian forces.
President Zelensky announced record Russian military losses in November and December, attributing the success to recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure. These attacks, including those on Taganrog and Bryansk, demonstrate increasing Ukrainian range and accuracy, pushing Russia closer to ending the war. Intense fighting continues in the Donetsk region, with the Russian army suffering substantial casualties in ongoing assaults. Zelensky specifically praised several Ukrainian brigades for their contributions to these battlefield victories.
Ukrainian forces, spearheaded by the 48th Separate Assault Battalion, liberated Novy Komar village in Donetsk Oblast from Russian occupation on December 4th, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing enemy marines. The successful operation leveraged effective assault infantry tactics and significant support from FPV drone teams. Simultaneously, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian bridgehead attempt near Novomlynsk in Kharkiv Oblast, maintaining control of the Oskil River’s west bank. Both victories demonstrate continued Ukrainian success in pushing back Russian forces.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported record Russian losses in November, exceeding those of September and October. These losses included over 45,000 personnel—equivalent to more than three motorized rifle divisions—and over $3 billion in destroyed equipment, including hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles. A single day in November saw a record high of 2,030 Russian casualties. Cumulative Russian losses since February 24, 2022, were reported to be approximately 742,130 soldiers.
Facing intensified Russian attacks and dwindling ammunition, the Ukrainian military increasingly relies on its drone units, which are responsible for at least 80% of Russian frontline losses. A shortage of HIMARS rockets further highlights the ammunition crisis, forcing a greater reliance on drone warfare despite these units becoming prime targets for sophisticated Russian countermeasures. Ukraine’s domestic drone production has surged to meet this demand, exceeding its annual production goal in October, though Western arms supplies remain slow to arrive alongside recruitment challenges. This dependence underscores a critical arms race shaping the conflict.
Ukrainian drone operations are significantly hindering Russian advances, slowing them to a crawl in some areas, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). These operations, highlighted by President Zelenskyy, are inflicting heavy daily casualties on Russian forces (estimated at 1,500-2,000 KIA/WIA) and forcing them to adapt tactics, such as smaller-scale assaults, which have proven insufficient to counter Ukrainian drone effectiveness. The ISW emphasizes that these drone strikes, particularly against armored vehicles, have been crucial throughout 2024, especially during artillery shortages. Continued improvements to Ukraine’s drone capabilities are vital for future success.
Russian forces, particularly the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, are suffering heavy losses in their Kursk Oblast offensive, losing over 100 vehicles and potentially thousands of troops in just a few hundred yards of advance. This disastrous performance stems from flawed intelligence leading to ill-prepared assaults by the 810th, exacerbated by a pattern of deliberate misinformation from their own command. Ukrainian forces, notably the 95th Air Assault Brigade, have inflicted these losses through effective defense and counterattacks, highlighting the ongoing, brutal conflict despite potential future political shifts. The Ukrainian resistance remains resolute, regardless of any potential armistice.
John Q. Hosedrinker