Russia Loses 24 Tanks in a Day As 100,000 Death Toll Nears: Ukraine

Russian forces in Ukraine lost another 24 tanks as of Sunday, according to the latest figures from Ukraine's armed forces, as the total alleged casualty figure for the nine-month old invasion neared 100,000 troops.

Per Ukraine's newest figures released on Monday morning, Russia has now lost 2,966 tanks since Moscow's troops crossed into Ukrainian territory on February 24.

Another 620 Russian troops were claimed killed by the Ukrainian armed forces, bringing the total to 94,760 since February 24. At the current rate of 300 to 400 deaths reported each day, Russia's military could reach the grim 100,000 milestone by Christmas Day. Ukrainian forces estimate Moscow has so far suffered some 284,280 injured and another 1,000 captured.

Monday's figures also included eight armored combat vehicles bringing the total to 5,928; four more vehicles and fuel tanks bringing the total to 4,544; one artillery system bringing the total to 1,929; four UAVs bringing the total to 1,617; and two items of special equipment bringing the total to 169.

Russia does not regularly release casualty figures and equipment losses. Moscow has confirmed the deaths of fewer than 6,000 troops, and fewer than 4,000 additional fighters drawn from Russia's puppet so-called "people's republics" in the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry to request comment.

Ukraine is equally guarded about its own military casualties, so far admitting only 13,000 deaths since February 24.

Foreign partners have shone more light on the situation, with both General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinting at some 100,000 total casualties on the Ukrainian side, though this may include military and civilian dead as well as wounded.

Though operations were expected to slow through the muddy season—referred to as the "rasputitsa" in Russian, meaning "the time without roads"—Ukrainian leaders have been clear about their desire to maintain momentum and deny beleaguered Russian units any time to rearm and dig in.

Ukraine's knowledge of the terrain, expanded support from NATO partners, tactical maneuverability, and potent small unit tactics have all raised hopes that Kyiv's forces could carry their success through the difficult conditions.

The traditional mid-winter freeze in January will harden the ground, offering a key window for mechanized offensive operations until the spring thaw again brings mud to the Ukrainian steppe.

Sunday's reported sudden jump in Russian tank losses suggests that fighting remains fierce in multiple parts of the front as the end of the year approaches.

Kyiv will enter 2023 with several impressive victories in hand. Having survived the initial Russian onslaught, Ukraine bogged down and destroyed much of the invasion force that struck from Belarus in February, liberating the entire north of the country by April. A hot summer saw a grinding Russian offensive seize significant territory in the east.

Ukraine's lightning fall counter-offensive in Kharkiv oblast in the northeast of the country was followed by a slower, but ultimately successful, campaign to liberate the southern city of Kherson and clear Russian troops from the west bank of the Dnieper river.

The front lines have solidified since, coinciding with the arrival of winter snow, mud, and freezing temperatures. Fierce combat is ongoing in the eastern city of Bakhmut, where Russian forces appear bent on achieving a largely symbolic victory at the cost of high casualties on both sides.

More broadly, Ukraine is thought to be preparing for offensives towards the Crimean peninsula and the occupied southern city of Melitopol, hoping to cut vital Russian supply lines running along the Azov coast through the devastated city of Mariupol.