Ukrainian weapons, systems losses rate on the frontline up to 20%: NYT
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Sources to The New York Times say that Ukraine has restricted losses on the frontline by halting advancement attempts into Russian positions.
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Drone Photo showing destroyed US-made Bradleys and German-made Leopard tanks operated by Ukraine somewhere on the Zaporozhye front in June (Russian MoD)
Around 20% of the weapons sent to the frontlines during Ukraine's counteroffensive have been damaged or completely destroyed, according to a report by The New York Times.
In just the first two weeks of fighting the losses encompassed Western-made tanks, armored personnel carriers, and other heavy military equipment and vehicles.
🇷🇺💥🇺🇦🇺🇲‼️Soldiers from the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment shared with us gorgeous photos of the destroyed American M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.‼️ pic.twitter.com/OimCIEuFOC
— Djole 🇷🇸 (@onlydjole) July 13, 2023
However, US and European officials told the newspaper that the rate of losses decreased to 10% in the following weeks.
Officials also said that this reduction in losses is due to new Ukrainian tactics that focus on shelling Russian forces heavily with artillery and using long-range missiles to attack specific positions, according to NYT.
Ukraine suffered heavy casualties after trying to push its forces into Russian positions due to the intense number of fortifications that include minefields placed by Russian forces.
The magazine says the improvement actually hides a "grim reality"; the counteroffensive has slowed done and has been halted in other areas.
A Ukrainian soldier told NYT that a unit of armored vehicles caught in an artillery barrage in Velkya Novosilka was burned to the ground as he urged supporters of Kiev to "appreciate the importance of slow and steady advances."
Approximately six Western armored vehicles that had been shelled by Russian artillery, according to a Ukrainian soldier, were captured on camera by his squad's unmanned aerial vehicle.
He was cited in the media as adding that "They all burned."
Early June saw the beginning of Ukraine's much-anticipated counteroffensive, which had been delayed for months due to a shortage of military supplies from Western sponsors. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, despite their efforts, Ukrainian soldiers were unable to advance. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confessed that development was "slower than desired," a number of Western media outlets also noted the counteroffensive's lackluster outcomes.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, since the start of Ukraine's counteroffensive, Russia has destroyed 21 Ukrainian aircraft, five helicopters, 1,244 tanks including other armored vehicles, 17 Leopard tanks, and five French AMX wheeled tanks, 914 special vehicle units, two air defense systems, and 25 MLRS vehicles.
Read more: Putin: Western tanks burn better than Soviet-made ones
Earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the continued supply of Western missiles and tanks to Ukraine, which he asserts pose no critical threat in the combat zone.
The President said that the weapons have caused damage to Russian assets; however, the hopes placed upon them to pivot the balance of power toward NATO-backed Ukraine did not materialize. He focused on long-range cruise missiles provided by Western powers to Kiev which were expected to expand the scope of engagement, but Russian air defenses and intelligence have proved their exceptional capabilities in deterring the threat.
"As for the supply of weapons, various weapons, we see how many hopes were placed on the supply of missiles with a sufficiently long range. Well, yes, they cause damage, but nothing critical happens in the combat zone with the use of missiles. The same goes for foreign-made tanks, infantry fighting vehicles," Putin underlined.
Putin revealed that since June 4, 311 Ukrainian weapons, systems, and vehicles have been destroyed, adding that at least one-third of these weapons come from Western arsenals.
"I can tell you that Ukrainian servicemen often refuse to even get into these tanks because they are a priority target for our guys," Putin underlined, adding that foreign tanks "burn better" than the Soviet-made ones.
Read more: US's NATO strategy fails in the face of European division: Analysis
