Russia slows down its advance on the front: ISW analysis.

Russian forces gained 4168 sq. km of territory in Ukraine in 2024

According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in 2024 Russian forces managed to gain 4,168 sq. km of territory on the front against Ukraine and in the Kursk region, which mainly consists of fields and small settlements. This came at a cost of over 420,000 personnel losses. However, in December, the offensive of the Russian troops slowed down.

Russian forces suffered 427,000 losses in 2024

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that in 2024 Russian forces suffered 427,000 casualties. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) calculated, using geolocation data, that during 2024 Russian forces continued to advance 4,168 sq. km of territory, which amounts to about 102 losses for every sq. km. of this land that was seized in Ukraine.

Russian forces gained 2356 sq. km of territory in September, October, and November 2024

Earlier, ISW reported that in September, October, and November 2024, Russian forces gained 2,356 sq. km of territory in exchange for about 125,800 losses. During this period, Russia gained 56.5% of its territorial acquisitions for 2024.

Russian forces gained 593 sq. km of territory in December 2024

But in December 2024, the advance of the occupiers slowed down. ISW, using geolocation data, calculated that in December 2024, Russian forces gained 593 sq. km of territory, which amounts to 18.1 sq. km per day. However, the number of daily losses among Russian military personnel remained the same as in November 2024.

Russian forces suffered average daily losses of 1585 personnel in December 2024

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the average daily losses of Russian forces in December 2024 amounted to 1,585 personnel, marking the fourth record in the daily loss rate for Russia.

The loss rate of Russian forces increased at the end of 2024

Syrskyi also noted that over the last week, Russian forces lost 1,700 personnel per day, indicating an even greater level of losses at the end of 2024, despite the slowdown in the offensive. It remains unclear whether the Russian command will be willing to tolerate such losses if the rate of advance continues to decrease, especially towards more fortified settlements, such as Pokrovsk.

It should be noted that Russian and North Korean forces have still failed to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the Kursk region due to strikes from Ukrainian long-range weaponry.