Critical damage in numbers. Ukrainian losses of the first week
A typical result of demilitarization - it used to be a fighting vehicle of the Ukrainian army
Since February 24, the Russian armed forces have been systematically and inexorably carrying out measures for the forcible demilitarization of Ukraine. Due to precise strikes and a constant offensive, various objects are destroyed, equipment and weapons, as well as other materiel, are hit and become trophies. As a result, the potential of the Ukrainian army and its ability to resist are gradually reduced, and their restoration is no longer possible.
Recent successes
At an evening briefing on March 2, Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov announced the latest news, and also revealed the main results of the first week of the current Special Operation. He said that the Russian army is successfully advancing in all directions and taking control of new territories, including large cities.
Attacks on military installations, weapons and equipment continue. By the time of the briefing, since the beginning of the operation, 1533 military infrastructure facilities had been hit. This number includes 54 enemy control and communications points, 52 radar stations of various types, as well as 39 anti-aircraft systems of several models.
Enemy losses in armored vehicles were estimated at 484 units. Ukrainian artillery lost 217 guns and mortars, as well as 63 multiple rocket launchers. 336 units destroyed. automotive and special equipment.
The enemy air forces were left without several dozen aircraft. 47 units were destroyed on the ground, another 13 were shot down in flight. 47 unmanned aerial vehicles were also hit.
BTR-4. Perhaps this particular car has already been hit and burned down.
It should be noted that not all combat vehicles and objects are destroyed. As the troops of Russia, the LPR and the DPR advance, weapons and equipment abandoned by the former owners remain in the controlled territory. In addition, the Ukrainian military surrenders and hand over their equipment. Unfortunately, the number of such trophies was not reported. However, there is reason to believe that the count goes to tens or hundreds of units.
Was and gone
During the first week of fighting, the Ukrainian army suffered the most serious losses in manpower and equipment, which negatively affected its potential. At the same time, it is possible to assess what proportion of objects and materiel was destroyed - and how this affects combat capability.
Data on the state of the Ukrainian army in the recent past can be taken from the IISS The Military Balance for the past year. It reflects the indicators at the turn of 2020-21, which subsequently, before the start of demilitarization, did not change significantly. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the authors of the guide did not have access to all relevant information. In particular, they could not find out which part of the equipment and armaments had the required condition and was really fit for use.
According to TMB, at the beginning of last year, Ukraine had 858 tanks several models. The number of armored vehicles for the transport of infantry was estimated at almost 2400 units. The share of combat-ready products is unknown. The Russian army destroyed 472 armored vehicles in the first week; an unknown number were abandoned by crews. The vehicle fleet also suffered significant losses.
Thus, armored and motorized rifle units lost at least 15% of the total number of combat vehicles. However, this indicator does not take into account the actual combat readiness of equipment and abandoned samples. If it were possible to take into account these indicators, the share of losses would be higher. In addition, the actual combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian army is hit by the fact that the equipment of advanced units with the best supply and training was destroyed or captured.
The Ukrainian Air Force is almost completely destroyed
The total number of Ukrainian artillery, according to TMB, exceeded 1800 units. This number included more than 600 self-propelled guns and over 500 towed guns, 350 MLRS and various mortars. The Russian army successfully destroyed about 20% of the barrel and rocket artillery. A few more percent to this indicator will be added by captured whole samples. At the same time, we are again talking about the technology of the most combat-ready formations.
Military and object air defense were armed with approx. 400 missile systems and some other obsolete products. The basis of air defense was 322 S-300P systems and more than 70 Bukov-M1. The military defense involved the S-300V, Strela-10 and Tor products with a total of approx. 75 units The Russian army has successfully destroyed about 10% of all this equipment. In addition, fifty radar stations were knocked out, as a result of which the air defense was “blinded”, and the remaining missile systems became almost useless.
The payroll of the Ukrainian Air Force a year ago included approx. 200 units technology, including unsuitable for use. OK. 125 aircraft were tactical aviation, mainly they were MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters. There were also several dozen transport aircraft and helicopters. On the ground (mostly) and in the air, about a third of the entire fleet was destroyed. It also caused the most serious damage to unmanned aircraft, but it will not be possible to accurately assess it.
The situation around the Ukrainian Navy looks curious. Already with the first strikes, the Russian army hit several bases and damaged or destroyed several ships and boats. In the following days, new naval facilities were taken under control. As a result, the Ukrainian fleet still retains some combat units, but their use is effectively excluded. The Ukrainian Navy as a combat-ready structure no longer exists.
Additional factors
It should be recalled that the first missile strikes from the Russian side were aimed at weapons, ammunition and fuel depots, boxes with equipment and other objects. Accordingly, some of the tanks, artillery, etc. was destroyed in the first hours of the Special Operation and does not participate in further events. Whether such enemy losses are taken into account in the current statistics from the Ministry of Defense is unclear. If our military only counted the objects hit, but not the equipment in them, then the Ukrainian losses in absolute and relative figures should be even higher.
British NLAW grenade launchers. As it turned out, these are future trophies
You also need to take into account that the combat effectiveness of the army depends not only on the amount of equipment, but also on stocks and logistics. The Russian army with the help of high-precision weapons successfully knocked out a lot of warehouses and destroyed stocks on them. In the near future, the enemy will be able to fully experience the shortage of fuel and "shell hunger." These factors will additionally hit his combat capability.
Losses of ammunition and fuel can be replenished by supplies from abroad. However, such measures of the recent past have already shown their futility. Foreign partners in large quantities transferred to Ukraine the most modern infantry weapons of "defensive purpose". Now these products regularly become trophies of the advancing forces. In addition, certain quantities of grenade launchers and rockets were simply destroyed along with warehouses.
In the current situation, the Ukrainian army can only rely on available weapons and equipment. There is no time and resources for the re-opening of materiel from storage. Receiving foreign aid that can change the situation is generally impossible. All this again reduces the chances of successful resistance.
From bad to worse
The process of forcible demilitarization of Ukraine in order to eliminate military risks began a little over a week ago and continues successfully. The Russian army successfully knocked out more than 1500 military installations and destroyed hundreds of pieces of equipment and weapons. This is far from all that was listed in the Ukrainian armed forces, but they have already suffered critical damage.
The combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian army is falling, but the current authorities of the country are still hoping for something and are trying to continue resistance. The consequences of this are obvious. Russia will have to continue the special operation - and the indicators of Ukrainian losses in absolute and relative numbers will continue to grow, which will soon be reported again by our Ministry of Defense.
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