Special Report
Russian and Ukrainian Weapon and Vehicle Losses in the War So Far
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On Wednesday, Ukraine launched its long-awaited counteroffensive into Russia-controlled territory. The besieged nation has been taking in a steady stream of weapons, financial support, and training from its Western allies. It deployed thousands of troops into the southern front, with more expected in the coming days. For a war that has become stale in its second year, the coming days will likely represent a major uptick in action, and in casualties and destruction of vehicles on both sides.
The estimates of military and civilian casualties in Ukraine vary considerably. Neither Russia nor Ukraine publicizes the number of casualties, and more precise numbers may not be available for years. Until then, tallying the war’s toll on both sides remains, as the Associated Press described it earlier this year as “an elusive goal,” adding that precise figures “may never emerge.”
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S.-based think tank, puts Russian military casualties (killed, injured, or missing) at “well over 200,000” as of the beginning of this year, while Western officials put Ukraine’s military losses at roughly half that number.
In March, the United Nations estimated Ukraine’s civilian casualties at nearly 22,000, adding that it believes the actual total is “considerably higher.” Additionally, the U.N. estimates approximately 13.5 million Ukrainians have been driven from their homes and 17.6 million are in need of humanitarian aid. (These are the 20 biggest bombs in Russia’s military arsenal.)
Setting aside the human toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, another grim measure of Europe’s biggest military conflict since World War II is the losses of materiel like troop transports, tanks, missile systems, helicopters, and reconnaissance drones.
To compare Russian and Ukraine military equipment losses so far, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the GitHub repository Russia-Ukraine Equipment Loss Tracking. The repository mainly uses data from open-source intelligence analysis Oryx, but also includes a continuous stream of NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) data, which detects fire in various sectors of the front. Data on the type most lost came from Oryx’s documentation for Ukraine and Russia’s equipment losses. Data is as of March 27, 2023. It is important to note the Ukrainian government releases far higher estimates of Russian equipment losses.
Based on these estimates, Russia has lost nearly 9,900 pieces of military equipment that were either destroyed, captured, damaged, or abandoned. These losses are led by nearly 2,400 trucks and similar vehicles, about 2,200 infantry fighting vehicles, and about 1,900 tanks. Common Russian losses include Kamaz military trucks used to move troops and equipment, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and the T-72 battle tank.
Ukraine, which is outnumbered in equipment and soldiers, has lost about 3,100 pieces of military equipment, led by 544 trucks and similar vehicles, 516 infantry fighting vehicles, and 485 tanks. Among these common targets are the ZIL-131 truck, the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, and T-64 battle tank. Both sides are relying heavily on outdated Russian-made equipment. (Here’s how Ukraine’s newly bolstered tank army compares to Russia’s.)
In the skies, Russia has reportedly lost 198 reconnaissance uncrewed aircraft, seven uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, 80 helicopters, and 78 fixed-wing piloted aircraft. Likewise, Ukraine has lost 76 reconnaissance UAVs, 17 combat UAVs, 31 helicopters, and 61 fixed-wing piloted aircraft.
Here is what we know about Russian versus Ukraine military losses.
24. Trucks, Vehicles and Jeeps
> Russia losses: 2,377
> Breakdown: destroyed: 1,728, captured: 564, damaged: 36, abandoned: 49
> Most lost: KamAZ 6×6 (707 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 544
> Breakdown: destroyed: 364, captured: 159, damaged: 14, abandoned: 7
> Most lost: ZiL-131 (100 lost)
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23. Jammers And Deception Systems
> Russia losses: 30
> Breakdown: destroyed: 21, captured: 7, damaged: 2
> Most lost: R-330BMV Borisoglebsk-2B (9 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 1
> Breakdown: captured: 1
> Most lost: NOTA (1 lost)
22. Radars
> Russia losses: 26
> Breakdown: destroyed: 15, captured: 9, damaged: 2
> Most lost: 1L261 (for 1L260 Zoopark-1M counter-battery radar complex) (7 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 52
> Breakdown: destroyed: 35, captured: 11, damaged: 5, abandoned: 1
> Most lost: 36D6 ‘Tin Shield’ (10 lost)
21. Surface-To-Air Missile Systems
> Russia losses: 102
> Breakdown: destroyed: 69, captured: 23, damaged: 6, abandoned: 4
> Most lost: 9K35 Strela-10 (15 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 87
> Breakdown: destroyed: 75, captured: 7, damaged: 4, abandoned: 1
> Most lost: 5P851A (launcher for S-300PT) (20 lost)
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20. Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
> Russia losses: 24
> Breakdown: destroyed: 13, captured: 8, abandoned: 3
> Most lost: 2K22M1 Tunguska (13 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 5
> Breakdown: destroyed: 1, captured: 3, damaged: 1
> Most lost: ZSU-23-4 Shilka (4 lost)
19. Anti-Aircraft Guns
> Russia losses: 17
> Breakdown: destroyed: 3, captured: 14
> Most lost: 23mm ZU-23-2 (17 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 4
> Breakdown: captured: 4
> Most lost: 23mm ZU-23 (3 lost)
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18. Multiple Rocket Launchers
> Russia losses: 189
> Breakdown: destroyed: 128, captured: 55, damaged: 4, abandoned: 2
> Most lost: 122mm BM-21 Grad (109 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 40
> Breakdown: destroyed: 27, captured: 9, damaged: 4
> Most lost: 122mm BM-21 Grad (28 lost)
17. Self-Propelled Artillery
> Russia losses: 369
> Breakdown: destroyed: 242, captured: 105, damaged: 15, abandoned: 7
> Most lost: 152mm 2S19 Msta-S (112 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 127
> Breakdown: destroyed: 78, captured: 27, damaged: 22
> Most lost: 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika (46 lost)
16. Towed Artillery
> Russia losses: 191
> Breakdown: destroyed: 84, captured: 93, damaged: 9, abandoned: 5
> Most lost: 152mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer (82 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 118
> Breakdown: destroyed: 70, captured: 18, damaged: 27, abandoned: 3
> Most lost: 155mm M777A2 howitzer (46 lost)
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15. Artillery Support Vehicles And Equipment
> Russia losses: 96
> Breakdown: destroyed: 44, captured: 50, abandoned: 2
> Most lost: 9T452 transporter-loader (for BM-27 ‘Uragan’ MRL) (37 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 23
> Breakdown: destroyed: 10, captured: 13
> Most lost: 1V18 ‘Klyon-1’ artillery command and forward observer vehicle (8 lost)
14. Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems
> Russia losses: 38
> Breakdown: destroyed: 14, captured: 20, abandoned: 4
> Most lost: 9P149 Shturm-S (33 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 21
> Breakdown: destroyed: 8, captured: 12, abandoned: 1
> Most lost: 9P148 Konkurs ATGM carrier (18 lost)
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13. Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
> Russia losses: 298
> Breakdown: destroyed: 134, captured: 120, damaged: 5, abandoned: 39
> Most lost: UR-77 ‘Meteorit’ mine clearing vehicle, BREM-1 armored recovery vehicle, PP-2005 floating bridge (28 each lost)
> Ukraine losses: 48
> Breakdown: destroyed: 22, captured: 24, damaged: 2
> Most lost: IMR-2 combat engineering vehicle, BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (4 each lost)
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12. Command Posts And Communications Stations
> Russia losses: 235
> Breakdown: destroyed: 144, captured: 88, abandoned: 3
> Most lost: R-149MA1 command and staff vehicle (74 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 9
> Breakdown: destroyed: 6, captured: 3
> Most lost: BMP-1KSh command and staff vehicle (2 lost)
11. Infantry Mobility Vehicles
> Russia losses: 187
> Breakdown: destroyed: 130, captured: 52, damaged: 4, abandoned: 1
> Most lost: GAZ Tigr-M (135 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 289
> Breakdown: destroyed: 154, captured: 113, damaged: 19, abandoned: 3
> Most lost: M1114 and M1151 HMMWV (54 lost)
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10. Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected
> Russia losses: 45
> Breakdown: destroyed: 30, captured: 10, damaged: 4, abandoned: 1
> Most lost: KamAZ-63968 Typhoon (23 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 46
> Breakdown: destroyed: 28, captured: 5, damaged: 10, abandoned: 3
> Most lost: International M1224 MaxxPro (14 lost)
9. Armored Personnel Carriers
> Russia losses: 311
> Breakdown: destroyed: 193, captured: 98, damaged: 8, abandoned: 12
> Most lost: BTR-80 (159 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 236
> Breakdown: destroyed: 128, captured: 84, damaged: 12, abandoned: 12
> Most lost: BTR-80 (92 lost)
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8. Infantry Fighting Vehicles
> Russia losses: 2,245
> Breakdown: destroyed: 1,449, captured: 610, damaged: 68, abandoned: 118
> Most lost: BMP-2(K) (811 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 516
> Breakdown: destroyed: 365, captured: 107, damaged: 12, abandoned: 32
> Most lost: BMP-1(P) (260 lost)
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7. Armored Fighting Vehicles
> Russia losses: 818
> Breakdown: destroyed: 511, captured: 266, damaged: 13, abandoned: 28
> Most lost: MT-LB (381 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 275
> Breakdown: destroyed: 186, captured: 82, damaged: 2, abandoned: 5
> Most lost: BRDM-2 (58 lost)
6. Tanks
> Russia losses: 1,901
> Breakdown: destroyed: 1,148, captured: 552, damaged: 100, abandoned: 101
> Most lost: T-72B3 (303 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 485
> Breakdown: destroyed: 294, captured: 145, damaged: 29, abandoned: 17
> Most lost: T-64BV (212 lost)
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5. Naval Ships
> Russia losses: 12
> Breakdown: destroyed: 8, damaged: 4
> Most lost: Project 03160 Raptor-class patrol boat (5 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 25
> Breakdown: destroyed: 8, captured: 16, damaged: 1
> Most lost: Gyurza-M-class gunboat (5 lost)
4. Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
> Russia losses: 198
> Breakdown: destroyed: 102, captured: 96
> Most lost: Orlan-10 (127 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 76
> Breakdown: destroyed: 44, captured: 32
> Most lost: A1-SM Fury (22 lost)
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3. Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles
> Russia losses: 7
> Breakdown: destroyed: 6, captured: 1
> Most lost: Orion, Orlan-10 UCAV (2 each lost)
> Ukraine losses: 17
> Breakdown: destroyed: 17
> Most lost: Bayraktar TB2 UCAV (17 lost)
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2. Helicopters
> Russia losses: 80
> Breakdown: destroyed: 69, captured: 1, damaged: 10
> Most lost: Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ attack helicopter (33 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 31
> Breakdown: destroyed: 27, captured: 3, damaged: 1
> Most lost: Mi-8 transport helicopter (20 lost)
1. Aircraft
> Russia losses: 78
> Breakdown: destroyed: 70, damaged: 8
> Most lost: Su-25 close air support aircraft (29 lost)
> Ukraine losses: 61
> Breakdown: destroyed: 60, captured: 1
> Most lost: MiG-29 fighter aircraft (18 lost)
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