August 13, 2024: Russian military forces in Ukraine have suffered heavy losses since they invaded in early 2022. Recently those set a record for the highest percentage of troops in a unit killed or wounded in a single attack, against Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine. The Russian attack in the city began on May 10th and failed with 91 percent of the attacking force of 10,350 troops killed, wounded or missing, along with nearly fifty tanks and other armored vehicles. Two tank regiments were wiped out along with most of an infantry brigade. An Air Assault Brigade suffered heavy losses as well, but nothing like 91 percent.

Such heavy losses forced the Russians to withdraw their remaining troops and bring in the Alexander Nevsky Brigade, a volunteer outfit that would guard the sector until regular Russian troops could be found to replace them. The Alexander Nevsky Brigade is full of poorly trained volunteers who should be capable of manning the front line but will probably collapse if subjected to an attack.

Russian forces often suffer heavy losses when sending in infantry to attack a Ukrainian position, but 91 percent losses was a new record. Recent Russian tactics have regularly used infantry attacks, often unsupported by artillery or accompanying tanks. Russian artillery and tank losses have been heavy since they invaded in early 2022. Tank losses have been so heavy that all they can provide for supporting infantry attacks are 60 year old T-64 tanks taken out of storage, refurbished and sent to Ukraine. These 38-ton tanks, armed with 125mm smooth bore guns, entered service in 1966 and 13,000 were built before production stopped in 1987. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine inherited 2,000 T-64s. The new Russian Federation received 4,000 T-64s but did not issue them to tank units. Instead Russia is planning to demolish its T-64’s and recycle the components. Russian smelters always appreciate the high-grade steel used to build tanks and happily accept older tanks to cut up so the steel can be sent to the smelters to be recycled for non-military items.