Russian Forces Face Record Casualties Amid Advances in Eastern Ukraine

Kyiv Independent

Russian troops have suffered record-high casualties during combat operations in November and December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Dec. 11 after receiving a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Despite staggering losses, Russian forces continue their rapid advance in eastern Ukraine, pushing back outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian defenders. Zelensky highlighted the unprecedented scale of manpower losses, particularly in November and December, emphasizing that the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast remain active battle zones.

On Dec. 1, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported that Russian losses in November amounted to 45,720 soldiers killed, wounded, or captured, alongside over $3 billion in equipment losses. The month also saw the single highest daily casualty count since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, with 2,030 enemy personnel lost in a day. Estimates from Ukraine and Western analysts place total Russian losses at 600,000 to 750,000 troops, though Moscow has not disclosed official figures.

While enduring heavy losses, Russian forces maintain an advantage on the battlefield, making gains toward key towns in Donetsk Oblast, such as Pokrovsk, and weakening Ukrainian defences near the Russian border in Kursk.

Zelensky also commended Ukrainian forces for recent strikes on Russian military and infrastructure targets. He specifically noted attacks on energy and fuel facilities, as well as military sites within Russian territory. Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed a successful strike on a Druzhba oil pipeline loading station near Bryansk, Russia, which resulted in a large-scale fire.