It’s been two months since the Kremlin launched a large-scale attack on the area east of Donbas of Ukraine, directed the forces of its huge arsenal along the 300-mile front and inflicted heavy losses on the Ukrainian forces as their fighters blew up en route to gain the benefits. tired.
But the campaign paid a heavy price. After weeks of bloody fighting and a persistent defense of available Ukrainian troops, Russia’s forces are likely to be severely depleted in both men and equipment.
An entire Russian regiment – which when full staff may include several thousand troops – forced withdrawal from the eastern front “To restore combat ability” Ukraine’s military said on Saturday after suffering heavy losses. The Ukrainians also said they destroyed “30 different units of enemy equipment and weapons” in 24 hours starting Friday morning. The Ukrainian said late Saturday that Russia “continues to suffer significant losses.
The claims cannot be independently verified, but if confirmed, they would be an indication that the battle for control of Donbas is taking a heavy toll on Russian forces that were defeated in early months of the war as they tried and failed to capture Kyiv, the capital, and other towns and cities to the north.
General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said: “The Russians have probably lost somewhere between 20 and 30% of their armored force. said last week. “It’s huge. So the Ukrainians are fighting a very effective war tactically with both firepower and mobility.”
General Milley said that “the numbers are clearly in favor of the Russians” when it comes to weapons, prompting the White House to commit an additional $1 billion to Ukraine to buy more artillery, missile systems, coastal defense weapons and more. important ammunition.
As Ukraine anxiously waits for weapons to arrive, Russian forces are killing about 200 Ukrainian soldiers a day, officials say. The Ukrainians are desperately trying to hold their ground in the ruined city of Sievierodonetsk, as they are also defending themselves from a broader encirclement of forces in the area by Russians advancing from the north, south and east. .
However, the Ukrainians are costing the Russians dearly for every mile they seek to advance.
British military intelligence said last week that Russian combat forces in the Donbas are now “most likely operating in increasingly special and unmanned groups.”
According to the British analysis, “For both sides fighting in the contested towns, front-line combat is likely to increasingly focus on small groups of troops typically operating on land.”
Unable to dislodge Ukrainian troops from Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine’s military said on Saturday after weeks of intense bombardment and urban fighting, Russia was trying to improve its “tactical situation” by conducting military operations. epidemic attack outside the city. It says that the Russians failed to break through and suffered heavy losses when they tried to take the last piece of land under Kyiv control in the Luhansk province of Donbas.
“Now the heaviest battles are near Sievierodonetsk, claiming that Ukrainian soldiers recently shot down a Russian fighter jet and captured it,” said Serhii Haidai, the regional military commander of Luhansk. Prisoner.
Michael Kofman, director of Russia studies for CNA, a research group in Virginia, said in a recent analysis that if the Russians break through in Sievierodonetsk, their ongoing human struggles may still be possible. reduce their ability to sustain any progress.
“The Russian military has spent many months trying to hire more service members on contract, deploying reserve units and now organize more battalions based on the existing force structure.” Mr. Kofman wrote. “These are partial efforts that allow the Russian military to remain strong in the war, but do not solve the fundamental shortage of manpower.”
