The Russian military has lost 59 artillery systems, 101 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 15 tanks, and 101 vehicles in the space of 24 hours, according to Ukrainian figures.
The report, posted on Friday to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense page on X (formerly Twitter), also said 1,230 troops, eight multiple-rocket launch systems, an air defense system, and three pieces of “special equipment” were eliminated over the same period.
Russia does not officially publish its military losses, and military analysts are skeptical of reports released by both sides.
The latest figures, if accurate, would bring Russia’s total losses for artillery systems, drones, tanks and vehicles since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to 18,965, 16,494, and 43,447 respectively.
“The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have.”
Randy PauschThe combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to October 4, 2024. pic.twitter.com/czGrkunhmX
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 4, 2024
Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment via email.
Alongside the ministry’s post was a quote attributed to American computer scientist Randy Paush which read: “The key question to keep asking is, are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have.”
Russian losses of artillery systems hit record highs in July and August, according to Ukrainian figures.
In July, Russia lost 1,520 artillery systems and 1,517 in August. Last month, 1,219 were reportedly destroyed.
This period also saw some of the highest losses of Russian military personnel so far, with 35,680 in July, 36,810 in August, and 38,130 in September.
A Ukrainian serviceman of Liut brigade fires by his D-30 artillery cannon towards Russian positions near Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday Sept. 22, 2024. Ukrainian figures suggest Russia lost 59 artillery systems, 101 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 15 tanks, and 101 vehicles in the space of 24 hours.
Evgeniy Maloletka/Associated Press
Data sourced from Ukraine’s armed forces suggested that in September, Russia suffered almost 10,000 casualties within the space of a week.
On Thursday, Ukrainian forces said they had successfully hit a $100 million Russian Nebo-M radar station with ATACMS ballistic missiles.
The Nebo-M is “very complex” and able to operate in “stealth mode,” Ukraine’s military said.
It added that the station’s destruction “significantly reduces the ability of the Russian army to detect, track and intercept aerodynamic and ballistic targets.”
Newsweek has previously visualized Russian troop, tank, and artillery losses in 2024, as of September 18.
May was Russia’s worst month for tank losses so far this year, with 428 destroyed. It was the second deadliest month in the war for Russian tank crews, following October 2023 with 521.
Subsequent months saw 359 losses in June, 300 in July, 193 in August, and 291 in September.
Citing unnamed intelligence sources, The Wall Street Journal reported in September that the number of human casualties, injured or killed, across both sides of the conflict since February 2022 has surpassed one million.
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