According to Ukrainian sources, Russian troops have been carrying out attacks in the vicinity of the town of Kurakhov in the last few weeks they are more likely to rely on infantry and use armored vehicles only as support fire.
In an interview with The New York Times, one of the Ukrainian officers said that Russian forces are increasingly using attacks in eastern Ukraine them electric scooters, motorcycles and off-road vehicles.
Russia is losing more and more equipment. The Kremlin had to change tactics
Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War point to several reasons for this changes in Russian tactics.
They believe mechanized attacks near larger cities such as Kurachowe or Pokrovskmay be a greater challenge than an offensive on smaller towns or attacks in open spaces, where fighting took place for most of 2024. Another reason – according to ISW – are difficulties in re-equipping Russian troops.
Experts indicate that last year the Ukrainian armed forces destroyed or damaged more than 3 thousand Russian tanks and almost 9 thousand armored vehicles.
“This rate is almost three times higher than in the first two years of the war, so estimates that Russia may suffer such large losses in 2025, and perhaps even in 2026, are no longer valid“- we read in the latest ISW report.
War in Ukraine. The Russians' warehouses are emptying out
The British International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported in February 2024 that Russia would probably be able to maintain such a high level of losses of armored vehicles for two or three years, at most until the beginning of 2027, mainly thanks to renovation of vehicles from Soviet-era warehouses.
According to think tank sources from Washington at the end of December last year, Russia had pre-war reserve tanks in 47 percent, infantry fighting vehicles – in 52 percent, and armored personnel carriers – in 45 percent.