In his Victory Day Parade Vladimir Putin stated that the world is at a turning point with Russia defending the citizens of Donbas from attacks by the West. Zelensky stated that “we are defending our villages from Russian aggression and leave it to the International Crimes Court to deal with Putin”. As of day 446, Russian forces continue to hold about half of four provinces of Eastern Ukraine and all of Crimea which was seized in 2014. Russia has badly underestimated the resilience of Ukrainians and the resolve of NATO while overestimating its own capabilities.
As of mid-April 2023, Russian forces have suffered about 40,000 deaths and 165,000 wounded. Ukrainians have incurred about 16,500 deaths, half of these civilians, and 111,250 wounded, among them 14,815 civilians according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Although the casualty rate is much higher among the invaders, they draw from a far higher population. And Putin selectively draws disproportionately from rural and minority populations. Muscovites and St. Petersburgers are not dying on the battlefields of Ukraine.
Total combat losses of Russian aggressors in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 to 15 May 2023 (and since May 1st 2023): 199,460 (8500 troops lost (injured and killed in 14 days); 3759 tanks (59); 7336-(44) armored vehicles; 3137 (216) artillery systems; 562 (18) Multiple rocket launch systems; 316 (21) anti-aircraft warfare systems; 308 (0) aircraft; 294 (0) helicopters; 6034 (189) military auto vehicles and fuel tanks; 2720 (244) Drones; 407 (48) special military equipment; 973 (41) cruise missiles. – General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian forces lose more than 600 soldiers per day.
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