War in Ukraine: the Russian army has been losing nearly 1,000 soldiers daily since the start of 2024

L’armée russe est confrontée à une hausse des pertes humaines depuis le début de l’année 2024. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – Russian Ministry

According to the latest data from the British Ministry of Defense, human losses of the Russian army in Ukraine have increased significantly since the beginning of the year. Nearly 1,000 soldiers are believed to be killed or injured every day.

The conflict initiated by Vladimir Putin's army in Ukraine is increasingly deadly. According to a note published by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense and relayed by our colleagues from Ouest France, the daily loss rate of the Russian army is increasing sharply.

Since the start of the conflict, which began a little over two years ago, in February 2022, Moscow has lost 445,000 soldiers, or an average of 658 men per day, and the trend is increasing.

In detail, the average daily loss rate was around 400 in 2022. It would then have increased to 693 in 2023, to finally climb to 913 in the first quarter of 2024, despite a lull in March when the number of attacks would have been limited.

Progress on the ground whatever the human cost

"This increase reflects Russia's continued reliance on mass to maintain pressure on Ukraine's front lines", relates the British military intelligence note, published on X Sunday April 7.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 07 April 2024.

Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/0WoT8TTVOI#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/OGEODpWbPl

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 7, 2024

These data highlight the determination of the Russian army to progress on the ground whatever the human cost. A strategy of numbers which could have its limits in the long term, between shortage of manpower in the country and difficulties in recruiting volunteers for the front while the Kremlin's spring conscription campaign has started in recent days.