Russia has reached a significant milestone in its artillery losses in the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to an update from the Ukrainian military on Tuesday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, which posts daily updates on Russia's troop and equipment losses, reported that Russia lost 48 artillery systems in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 13,029 since the war began on February 24, 2022.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense highlighted this achievement on its social media channels, stating, "13,000 Russian artillery systems have been destroyed since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion. +1,018 since the beginning of May. That's what we call effective cou nter-battery warfare."
The latest figures were released as Moscow's forces continue to push for significant gains in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, seizing several villages on Ukraine's northeastern frontier as Kyiv faced shortages of ammunition and personnel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on May 16 that while Russian forces had advanced, Ukrainian troops were working to stabilize the situation. However, he warned on Sunday that Russia is preparing for a new offensive close to the border. This move could be an attempt to draw Kyiv's troops to the area and prepare for further offensive operations to expand Russia's foothold in northeastern Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank.
In addition to artillery losses, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Russia lost 1,460 soldiers over the past day, bringing the total to 503,800. The war has also cost Russia 7,692 tanks, 14,858 armored combat vehicles, 17,740 vehicles and fuel tanks, 357 military jets, and 326 helicopters.
Newsweek has been unable to independently verify Kyiv's figures and has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment. Casualty numbers reported by Ukraine often exceed those provided by Western allies, while Moscow rarely discloses its casualty numbers. Similarly, Kyiv does not provide updates on its own casualties. A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment leaked in April 2023 estimated that Ukraine had suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, including 15,500 to 17,500 dead.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that its military has so far destroyed 604 Ukrainian aircraft, 274 helicopters, 24,739 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,182 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,322 combat vehicles, 9,914 field artillery guns and mortars, and 22,060 units of special military vehicles.
