Russia is losing troops faster than it can replace them, Ukraine's top general says
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
Russia has been losing more personnel than it can mobilize for the fifth consecutive month. Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces are playing a major role in the enemy's massive losses, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
"Every day, the Russian army loses at least one thousand servicemen killed and wounded. Since the beginning of 2026, the enemy's total losses have already exceeded 141,500 personnel, of which more than 83,000 are irreversible," he noted.
According to the general, the tactic of active defense makes it possible to exhaust the Russians, restore positions, and inflict maximum losses on the enemy.
Syrskyi added that Ukraine has significantly increased the number of strikes deep in the Russian rear thanks to the rapid deployment of Middle Strike-type drones.
"We also have certain successes in suppressing Russian air defense systems at closer ranges, which allows us to increasingly effectively strike logistics hubs, oil refineries, and facilities of the Russian defense-industrial complex," his statement said.
On the night of May 17, Russia experienced one of the largest attacks of the entire full-scale war. Reports claimed that up to 300 drones were in motion, after which residents of the Moscow region began massively reporting explosions. Russia then claimed to have shot down more than 70 drones.
Later, Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed strikes on some strategic facilities in Moscow and the surrounding region. In particular, the Moscow oil refinery, the Solnechnogorskaya oil depot, and microelectronics manufacturing enterprises were attacked for the first time.
Ukraine's Security Service later stated that the joint operation with the Defense Forces was aimed at weakening the enemy's military potential.
