Russia's meatgrinder claims 70,000 casualties in just two months, MOD says

Russia's armed forces are believed to have suffered 70,000 casualties in just two months, averaging as high as 1,200 troops every 24 hours.

Since the opening of a new frontline in the Kharkiv region, Moscow has experienced heavy losses between May and June 2024.

"The average daily Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine throughout May and June 2024, increased to conflict highs of 1,262 and 1,163 respectively," according to the latest UK Ministry of Defence intelligence report.

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"In total Russia likely lost (killed and wounded) in excess of 70,000 personnel over the past two months," said the MOD.

"The uptick in losses reflects Russia's opening of the new front in the Kharkiv region while maintaining the same rate of offensive operations along the remainder of the front.

"Although this new approach has increased the pressure on the frontline, an effective Ukrainian defence and a lack of Russian training reduces Russia's ability to exploit any tactical successes, despite attempting to stretch the frontline further.

"Russia's casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day over the next two months as Russia continues to try to overmatch Ukrainian positions with mass."

The high number of casualties per day can be attributed to President Vladimir Putin's attempts to overwhelm the Ukrainian defenders by launching dozens of attacks across hundreds of kilometres of the frontline every day.

Furthermore, Russia is believed to be employing its 'meatgrinder' tactics and the use of suicide waves.

Western intervention is also believed to be having an impact, including Britain permitting Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets inside their border.

Germany has also donated its latest military aid package to the country, which includes Patriot missile systems, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition and unmanned surface vessels (USVs).