Marking 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence has released a comprehensive intelligence update revealing staggering Russian losses and the scale of international support for Ukraine.
According to Chief of Defence Intelligence Adrian Bird, over 700,000 Russian casualties have been recorded, with an average of 1,531 daily casualties in the first 17 days of November 2024.
Russian equipment losses include 3,558 tanks, 147 helicopters, 132 fixed-wing aircraft, and more than 8,500 armoured vehicles, alongside 26 vessels damaged or destroyed in the Black Sea.
The intelligence update also highlighted the growing involvement of Iran in aiding Russia’s war effort, with the provision of attack drones, artillery munitions, and ballistic missiles such as the Fath-360. This comes as the UK and its allies continue to ramp up military and financial aid to Ukraine, including £7.5 million for new drone capabilities under a UK-Latvia-led coalition.
Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised the importance of maintaining steadfast support for Ukraine, stating, “Our commitment to Ukraine remains ironclad. President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people will have our fullest support for as long as it takes.”
Operation Interflex, the UK’s multinational training initiative, has surpassed a major milestone, training over 50,000 Ukrainian recruits since its inception in 2022.
Supported by 12 allied nations, the programme is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities in the face of escalating Russian aggression. Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard praised the programme as “a perfect example of how we are working side-by-side with allies to bolster the security of Ukraine, which in turn boosts the security of Europe and the UK.”
Drone technology remains at the forefront of Ukraine’s strategy. The UK announced additional funding for attack and interceptor drones, with contracts set to deliver thousands of advanced first-person view drones in the coming months. This initiative complements Ukraine’s effective use of inexpensive drones to counter Russian forces, destroying tanks, vehicles, and artillery positions.
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Projecting a million casualties by next summer, if Pres Trump doesn’t end the war next 20th January between attending half a dozen innagural balls.
Problem is that Russia now with North Koreans have a significant advantage in manpower.
I think that is the biggest issue overall, that allowing firing missiles inside Russia will not fix it.
Much as I think it is vital Ukraine achieve a reasonable settlement, it feels like we are trapped into a war by proxy.
Russia, Iran, China and N. Korea on one side, Ukraine, NATO and certain other sympathetic countries like Australia on the other.
WW3 is taking place; its just currently its only on the territory of poor Ukraine.
We do seem to be trapped in a war by proxy, but is there another choice?
We need to let Ukraine unleash Stormshadow properly, and start inflicting North Korean casualties…but if course, will Kim Kong
jon or whatever his name is care about that?
Refining the drone. In whatever format, should be one priority, especially if we would likely use them against the same enemy as they were designed to fight against.
Effective and easy to ramp up production quickly. Yes please.imagine a River B2 with a big tupperware box of assorted drones. …
AA
Ukraine are getting some success in destroying Russians drones with other suicide drones. Not FPV those are short range and fly quite low, but Lancet class.
There is now a real air to air drone warfare in Ukraine.
And Ukraine’s casualties?
That’s the real problem. So far Russia’s casualties, although apparently higher, are replaceable. Ukraine’s increasingly, are not.
you would have thought that Russia as the aggressor, could not sustain high causalities over years the way they have, whereas Ukraine fighting a war of existence could – politically. approaching 3 years it doesn’t appear to be panning out that way.