Russia's Materiel Losses in Black Sea-Snake Island Approach $1 Billion

Russia's estimated total loss of weapons systems on or around Ukraine's Snake Island cost approximately $915 million - give or take a few million.

Even with surreptitious Chinese help in replacing them, the question is to what degree this rate of loss is sustainable, especially when combined with the loss of soldiers and contractors who have been trained to operate such sophisticated pieces of equipment. JL

Maksim Panasovskyi reports in Gagadget:

Russia lost on the island in total three anti-aircraft and missile complexes worth $42 000 000 (for all three). In addition, radar equipment worth $6 000 000, a Mi-8 helicopter worth $8 000 000, as well as two Raptor boats, a Serna landing boat and a Vasily Bekh rescue vessel worth $4 000 000, $20 000 000 and $25 000 000 respectively were destroyed. The Russian warship Moskva loss was estimated (at) $750 000 000. Anti-aircraft missile systems also got hit: AFU destroyed two Tor ($50 000 000) and three Strela-10 ($10 000 000) modifications.

On June 30, the Ukrainian media reported an attack on Snake Island, after which the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the information. Russia said it was leaving Snake Island as a "step of goodwill". During the occupation of the island, the Russian Federation lost nearly $1 000 000 000 worth of equipment.

What we know

To begin with, we note that the "step of goodwill" was made after artillery fire, rocket and artillery strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. General Zaluzhnyi published a video of the destruction of the radar station and the Pantsyr-S1 anti-aircraft missile and cannon system using Bayraktar TB and the Bogdan artillery system.

Russia lost on the island in total three such complexes worth $42 000 000 (for all three). In addition, radar equipment worth $6 000 000, a Mi-8 helicopter worth $8 000 000, as well as two Raptor boats, a Serna landing boat and a Vasily Bekh rescue vessel worth $4 000 000, $20 000 000 and $25 000 000 respectively were destroyed.

The main trophy of the Ukrainian Army is the Russian warship Moskva. The cruiser made a "negative" surfacing back in the spring. It was estimated for $750 000 000. Anti-aircraft missile systems also got hit: AFU destroyed two Tor ($50 000 000) and three Strela-10 ($10 000 000) modifications.

The total estimation of destroyed equipment on Snake Island and surrounding waters is $915 000 000 000. It is possible that in fact the losses are even greater. For example, Forbes does not take into account the Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter, which was shot down the day before. Though it is not excluded that they just put "Mi-8" instead of it.