Russia has lost more than 70,000 troops in the last two months, British military intelligence said on Friday.
The update from the Ministry of Defence added that heavy losses are likely to continue as Russia seeks further victories on the front lines in Ukraine, foreign media reports.
“Average daily Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine, during May and June 2024, rose to the highest levels of the conflict at 1,262 and 1,163 respectively,” the Ministry of Defence wrote.
“In total, Russia is likely to have lost (killed and wounded) over 70,000 personnel in the last two months.”
And a senior NATO official described the losses as “astronomical” during a conference on the sidelines of the alliance’s summit in Washington DC this week.
Western analysts have said that Russia’s use of small assault units has hindered them from making significant gains or exploiting any breakthroughs in Ukraine’s defensive lines.