Russian military losses in Ukraine nearly tripled over past 12 months

Russia’s Ground War in Ukraine Shows Signs of Stagnation

According to recent assessments by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has made limited territorial gains in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine regained approximately 400 square kilometers of territory it had previously lost, including areas around Dnipropetrovsk.

The ISW reported that Russian forces advanced by a net 104 square kilometers between January 1 and May 26, compared to 1,619 square kilometers during the same period last year. Additionally, Russian forces infiltrated and contested an additional 628 square kilometers but did not take control of these areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian casualties had increased to 145,000 this year, with 86,000 killed and 59,000 troops seriously wounded. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that Russia’s losses per square kilometer of advance were significantly higher than Ukraine’s ability to replace them through recruitment.

Russia is also facing significant financial challenges in its war effort. The country has exceeded its budget deficit allowance by April and has drawn down its gold reserves at an unprecedented pace, selling 27.9 tonnes worth over $4 billion. This has left Russia with its lowest gold reserves since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine attributes its recent successes to its strategy of interdicting Russian logistics through mid-range drone and artillery strikes. The country is also implementing a programme called Logistical Lockdown, which aims to scale up middle-strike capabilities and destroy Russian capabilities at the operational depth.

Source: Al Jazeera