Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Spoiler alert: We’re talking five digits.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has lost vast numbers of personnel, vehicles, and equipment.
But how much have they actually lost?
It’s impossible to know for sure, as the Russian military does not disclose these numbers, but the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine provides a daily update on the estimated total losses of the Russians.
And the numbers are staggering.
Five-digit losses for tanks
In its latest update, released early on Nov. 25, the Ministry estimates that the Russians have lost 11,368 tanks since the beginning of the war.
Add to that 428 aircraft and 347 helicopters, and it’s safe to say that the Russians are beginning to feel the lack of vehicles during their operations.
But it might be more interesting to look at the estimated losses of artillery systems, as they have turned out to play a key role in the Russian offensives.
Getting close to 35,000
According to the most recent numbers, the Russians have lost a staggering 34,644 artillery systems, with 18 being taken out in just the last day.
Ukrainian forces continue to deploy a mix of modern, NATO-supplied howitzers on the battlefield. But across the front, Russia is leaning heavily on decades-old artillery as it struggles to replenish its arsenal.
“Putin’s bouquet”
Much of Russia’s firepower now comes from what Moscow once branded “Putin’s bouquet,” a collection of post-Soviet guns chambered for 122mm and 152mm ammunition.
These include the 2S5 Hyacinth, 2S1 Gvozdika, and 2S4 Tulipan—systems that were long considered past their prime.
A smaller number of 203mm 2S7 Malkas and the newer 2S19 Msta-S units are also in use, but analysts note they cannot offset the broader shortfall.
Shrinking stockpiles
According to Ukrainska Pravda, citing OSINT analyst Jompy, Russian stockpiles of artillery pieces stood at 22,367, with 17,917 of them being towed versions.
Fast forward to 2024, and that number had dropped to 9,325—and it’s probably even lower now.
And it’s important to note that not all of the artillery systems in storage are fit for battle. Many of them are being cannibalized for spare parts, and some of them would need a massive overhaul to be ready for fighting in Ukraine.
North Korea to the rescue
This growing imbalance is seen as a key reason Moscow has leaned more heavily on North Korea for support.
According to analysts cited in the reporting, Pyongyang has supplied not only large shipments of artillery shells but also Koksan M-1989 and M-1978 guns, reinforcing Russia’s aging lineup.
Such transfers highlight how dependent Russia has become on external partners to sustain prolonged operations.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, WPTech
