Casualties

Thus far in the conflict, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Russian Navy have had vastly different experiences.

Last year, the Russian forces lost over 400,000 men in the fighting. But they managed to replace losses on an almost one-to-one ratio.

Despite its heavy losses, the Russian military leadership persists in its attritional strategy, exchanging men for Ukrainian territory.

Reports from the ground indicate that the North Koreans are disciplined and fearsome fighters—but do not seem trained and equipped for a 21st-century conflict.

By relying heavily on unrepresented ethnic minorities far away from the centers of power in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Kremlin ensures that public outcry against its “special military operation”...

Devoting vast resources to treating wounded soldiers in Ukraine has led to a lack of care for civilians—leading to a wave of hospital closures in Russia’s rural areas. Peace negotiations...

“The decrease in the recorded rate of casualties, whilst remaining high, likely reflects a decrease in the tempo of Russian operations and assaults,” speculated the British Ministry of Defence.

Russia’s astronomical losses in the conflict so far have wiped out its most skilled units, forcing it to rely on mass conscription for further advances.

Overall, the Russian military enjoys a better position today. The Kremlin has the men, munitions, and political power to take on a greater number of casualties.

Analysts agree that Russia’s losses in the war have been far higher—but the Ukrainian military is unable to replace its casualties at nearly the same rate.

As long as the Kremlin can recruit at least as many troops as it is losing, Russia's leadership will continue its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The Russian leadership is exchanging men—many of them previous casualties discharged prematurely from military hospitals—for land.