Russia is reportedly losing one soldier for every 2.5 square meters of occupied territory in Ukraine, according to Nataliia Kostenko, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
"The Russian military relies heavily on 'cannon fodder' tactics, showing that their advances come at an unbearable cost—one no other nation would accept. Estimates indicate that for every 2.5 square meters of territory Russia gains in Ukraine, one Russian soldier loses their life," Kostenko said during a meeting of the OSCE Security Cooperation Forum.
Kostenko cited the recent battle for Vuhledar, a city in the Donetsk region, as a prime example of this tactic.
"Russian forces only managed to take control of the city after hundreds of daily attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses. Despite their claims of a strategic victory, the reality is that even with a clear advantage in personnel, artillery, and air power, it took Russia two years to capture a city they’ve completely destroyed," she stressed, as reported by United24 Media.
In the past week, according to Kostenko, there were over 1,000 clashes between Ukrainian forces and the Russian army, with the overall situation on the front lines remaining highly tense and fluid.
"Over the last week, Ukrainian forces have continued to target and neutralize Russian military headquarters, logistical routes, and ammunition depots. Ukrainian troops successfully destroyed the command centers of Russia’s 35th and 27th motorized rifle brigades, as well as the command post of the 2nd Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation," she added.
British intelligence had previously reported significant Russian casualties, estimating that Russia could lose up to 1,000 soldiers per day during the winter months.
