Title: Russian Occupying Forces Set Record Losses in Ukraine in 2024
In a grim milestone, Russian occupying forces (ROV) in Ukraine have proclaimed the year 2024 a bloody one, with losses surpassing those of any previous conflict since World War II. A joint project by OBOZ.UA and "Information Resistance" group has revealed that December saw a record-high loss of personnel, with a significant decrease in equipment losses due to dwindling stocks.
December’s Casualty Record
December marked a somber milestone with 48,670 recorded casualties, continuing an upward trend in losses since June, with peak records being set since October. This brings the total casualties for 2024 to a staggering 430,790, surpassing the combined losses of 2022 (92,920) and 2023 (253,290), and even exceeding the cumulative losses of the Russian and Soviet armies in the past three decades.
Equipment Losses: A Declining Picture
- Tanks: December saw a loss of 203 tanks, reflecting a long-term trend of scarcity and rationing due to depleted reserves. For 2024, the total tank loss reached 3,689.
- Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV): The loss of 674 AFV in December reflects ongoing intense combat operations, with a total of 8,956 AFV lost in 2024.
- Artillery: With 609 artillery units lost in December, the 13,050 total for 2024 marks a distressing new record, as Russia struggles to replenish stocks.
- Reactive Systems: December’s loss of 3 reactive systems and a 2024 total of 310 reflect a severe depletion of reserve stocks.
- Air Defense Systems: With 13 systems lost in December, the total for 2024, 407, suggests a critical shortage.
- Vehicles and Special Equipment: Losses of 2,168 vehicles and 53 special equipment units in December push the yearly totals to 21,345 and 2,396 respectively, underscoring Russia’s dire logistical situation.
The Human Cost
Russia’s losses in 2024 have been so great that, in simple terms, for every piece of equipment lost, 8-9 Russian lives have been taken. This grim calculation underscores the devastating toll of the war on Russian forces and, by extension, the Russian people.
Russia’s Army: Bleeding and Depleted
Despite Russian propaganda’s attempts to paint 2024 as a year of gains, the sheer scale and irreparable nature of their losses paint a starkly different picture. As Russia’s armed forces limp into 2025, they face an uncertain future, with no signs of adequate compensation for their losses. The process of de-militarizing and de-nazifying Russia’s army continues unabated.
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