Russia Experiences One of Its Deadliest Days in Ukraine War: Kyiv Reports
According to Newsweek, Russian forces have endured one of their heaviest daily losses of troops since the onset of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The spike in casualties and equipment losses for Vladimir Putin's forces has been particularly notable since the beginning of October, following the launch of an offensive targeting Avdiivka, an industrial hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region and a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported on Saturday that Russia had lost 1,130 soldiers in the previous day alone, bringing the total casualties over the 20 months of conflict to 310,650.
This count marks the highest daily estimate by Kyiv since October 19, when Ukraine reported 1,380 Russian troop losses, and it's the second time in three days that the tally exceeded 1,000.
The reported death toll of Russian troops has seen a steady increase, rising from daily figures of 300-600 in early July to 600-1,000 since October.
Earlier in November, Kyiv announced that Russian losses had surpassed the 300,000 mark.
While Ukraine's estimates are often higher than those provided by its Western allies, and precise figures are hard to confirm, the investigation outlet Mediazona and BBC News Russian service, using publicly accessible sources, reported that as of November 3, 35,780 Russian soldiers had been confirmed killed, with the actual number likely much higher.
By the end of May 2023, Mediazona had reported 47,000 Russian soldier deaths. Russia, however, has not updated its official figures since September 2022, when Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported 5,937 Russian troops killed.
British defense officials at the end of October estimated Russian losses, including killed and permanently injured personnel, to be up to 190,000.
This figure did not include casualties from the Wagner Group of mercenaries, who have reportedly suffered thousands of deaths during the battle for Bakhmut.
The intensified battle over Avdiivka has been cited as a primary reason for the surge in Russian casualties. Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian army's Tavria group, stated that Kyiv's forces had successfully repelled 35 Russian attacks on Avdiivka and nearby settlements.
He noted a nearly 30 percent increase in Moscow's casualty rates in the Tavria group's area of responsibility compared to previous days.
This escalation in the Avdiivka region, according to Shtupun, has been marked by increased Russian infantry activity and the use of a significant number of armored vehicles.
