During the first two weeks of Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia, up to 20 percent of the weaponry sent to the battlefield was damaged or destroyed, according to officials from the United States and Europe. This included tanks and armored personnel carriers, which were crucial for Ukraine’s strategy. However, as the weeks progressed, the rate of losses decreased to about 10 percent, allowing the Ukrainians to preserve more troops and machines for their major offensive.
The improvement in losses was partly due to a change in tactics, with Ukraine focusing more on using artillery and long-range missiles to wear down the Russian forces. However, the counteroffensive has also slowed down in some areas as Ukrainian soldiers face challenges against Russia’s formidable defenses. Despite the losses, Ukraine has only taken a small fraction of the territory it hopes to cover.
One Ukrainian soldier reported that his unit’s drone recorded footage of Western armored vehicles being destroyed in an artillery barrage. The soldier expressed hope for a breakthrough but emphasized the importance of slow and steady advances. Russia had ample time to prepare for the counteroffensive, resulting in fortified defenses, mines, and dug-in troops. Russian reconnaissance drones and attack helicopters pose additional challenges for Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged a brief pause in operations due to a lack of equipment and munitions and called on Western allies to expedite deliveries. American officials confirmed the pause but stated that the Ukrainians had resumed operations more cautiously, taking into account the risks of minefields. With the influx of cluster munitions from the United States, the offensive may regain momentum.
The difficulties of the counteroffensive are evident in the farm fields of southern Ukraine, where the prized Bradley Fighting Vehicles have encountered anti-tank mines on a daily basis. These vehicles, designed to transport infantry soldiers through dangerous areas, have provided good protection for soldiers but have sustained severe damage from the mines, preventing them from reaching the Russian lines.
Experts have noted that the first 15 miles of the counteroffensive pose the greatest challenges, as attacking forces typically require three times the firepower and personnel compared to defending forces. Ukraine’s lack of air superiority and air defenses, which Western jets could provide, increases the likelihood of higher casualty rates.
Precise numbers regarding the destruction of weapons and armored vehicles in the counteroffensive are undisclosed. However, data from military analysis sites suggest significant losses. The 47th Mechanized Brigade, one of the Western-equipped units, was set to receive 99 Bradleys, but nearly one-third of these vehicles have been lost.
In June, 24 tanks were lost, including German-made Leopards. The 33rd Mechanized Brigade, another unit early in the counteroffensive, lost 30 percent of the Leopards it received. Despite these losses, Ukraine’s forces have made limited territorial gains, with the deepest advances in the southern areas of the Donetsk region and some progress in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The counteroffensive remains ongoing, and it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions. However, the challenges faced by Ukraine highlight the importance of support from Western allies and the potential for higher casualty rates without air superiority and defenses.
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