“Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has already lost about 17.8 thousand military personnel, as well as 631 tanks, 317 artillery systems, 143 aircraft and 134 helicopters,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
The Ukrainian General Staff released data on Russian losses:
- 17.8 thousand soldiers
- 631 tanks
- 317 artillery systems
- 143 aircraft
- 134 helicopters
From February 24 to April 2, Russia also lost 1,776 armored vehicles, 100 multiple launch rocket systems, 54 anti-aircraft systems, 1,236 vehicles, seven watercraft, 76 fuel tanks, 87 unmanned aerial vehicles and four short-range mobile ballistic missile systems.
“The fundamentals of military art have not changed”
– The war in Ukraine proves that the manner of warfare has not changed significantly since the Second World War. Of course, there has been colossal technological progress, but this does not affect the basics of warfare. It remains critical to secure large tracts of land to achieve geostrategic goals, and soldiers must fight for land with the right mix of infantry, armor and artillery, short and long range weapons, etc., said Dr. Simon Anglim, a military historian from King’s College London.
He pointed out that the reason for Russia’s failure in its plan to conquer Ukraine was not only that it underestimated the determination of the Ukrainians, who are fighting very hard and effectively, but also that it made a number of mistakes when it came to the aforementioned fundamentals of military art, for example, in terms of troop deployment.
– They sent tanks without covering them, so they easily become victims of attacks by the Ukrainian security forces. Weapons donated to Ukraine by Western countries, including Turkish-made anti-tank guided missiles and Bayraktar drones, are causing great havoc, especially among Russian tanks and armored vehicles. Thus, Ukraine actually prevents the seizure of territories by Russia, including cities, which is crucial for the success of Russian plans, the expert explained.