Russian territorial advances in Ukraine accelerated through 2024, although have slowed in early 2025.
The UK Ministry of Defense said this in an intelligence update on Ukraine published on social media platform X, Ukrinform reports.
The update highlights that Russia’s pre-invasion attempts to build a modern, professional force capable of carrying out complex operations have been reversed by substantial losses. Russia is now reliant on “mass over quality” to prosecute operations against Ukraine.
“Russia’s personnel casualties of over 860,000 killed and wounded have undermined Russia’s force quality. Most personnel currently serving in the Russian military have received minimal training, and Russian commanders use basic tactics to make advances, despite the associated high casualty rates,” the ministry said.
The intelligence also reported that Russia had lost at least 3,750 main battle tanks and 8,400 armored vehicles. Large stockpiles of tanks and armored vehicles, a legacy of the Soviet Union, have been the only means for Russia to be able to replenish these major losses.
Despite the costs imposed on its land forces, the Russian forces have been able to impose constant pressure on Ukrainian defenses. Russian territorial advances in Ukraine accelerated through 2024, although have slowed in early 2025.
“Continued attacks have been underpinned by the Russian leadership’s tolerance for casualties, and Russia’s land forces’ quantitative overmatch relative to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the update said.
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Source: Russian territorial advances in Ukraine in early 2025 slowed - UK intelligence
