Russia lost 910 military personnel in Ukraine between Wednesday and Thursday, pushing the total number of Russian casualties in its ongoing invasion beyond 135,000, according to data provided by the Ukrainian military.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has recorded 135,010 Russian combat losses since the war began nearly a year ago, a casualty report released Thursday showed.
In a report from the previous day, the military staff had put the figure at 134,100.
Russia has also lost 3,255 tanks, 6,468 armored fighting vehicles and 2,244 artillery systems, among other pieces of military equipment, according to the latest data provided by the Ukrainian military.
Russian forces have launched a major offensive in Ukraine’s partially occupied Luhansk province, the region’s governor, Serhiy Haidai, said Thursday.
The official noted that there has been “maximum escalation” and an increase in shooting as well as in shelling, The Guardian reported.
“These attacks are practically a daily occurrence. We see small groups [of Russian soldiers] trying to advance, sometimes with the support of heavy armor – infantry fighting vehicles and tanks – and sometimes not. There is continuous firing,” Haidai said.
“So far they haven’t had any success. Our defenders have been able to hold them back completely,” he added.
Western governments have warned of a possible major assault on Ukraine. Such an attack could occur as early as next week before Russia’s invasion marks its first anniversary on Feb. 24.
The main goal of the offensive is believed to be the capture of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which encompasses Luhansk and the neighboring province of Donetsk.
Russia may not have enough infantry to advance rapidly into Ukrainian territory, according to military analysts.
The weather in Ukraine also continues to play a “significant role” in Russia’s course of action, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) pointed out.
There has likely been little change in cross-country mobility (CCM) conditions in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks due to the frozen ground, the ministry said in a Thursday intelligence briefing.
Temperatures from the day before reached 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), and forecasts suggested that soil temperature increases coupled with snow melt would likely deteriorate CCM across the Donbas, according to the British MoD.
“CCM is likely to be at its worst, with extremely muddy conditions, over mid- to late-March. Commanders on both sides will highly likely seek to avoid scheduling major offensives at such times. However, perceived political or operation opportunities can override such concerns, as demonstrated by Russia launching its invasion in late-February 2022,” the ministry said.
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