Unusual: Russians In Kharkiv Suffer More Deaths Than Wounded Last Month

The usual battlefield ratio of wounded to dead is 3 to 1. For Russia to be suffering more dead than wounded in the Kharkiv sector suggests that it has become a backwater exacerbating Russia's already tenuous military performance. 

This means less armor and artillery so troops are not as well protected, fewer medical personnel meaning greater likelihood of dying from wounds and probably lower concentrations of anti-drone electronic warfare systems so that Ukrainian drone operators have more opportunity to strike. JL

Tim Zadorozhnyy reports in the Kyiv Independent:

Russian forces in the Kharkiv sector of the front line have suffered more irrecoverable losses than wounded over the past month. Russian forces rarely use vehicles, as Ukrainian troops have established a "dead zone" extending 10 kilometers into Russian-occupied areas to maintain control over the sector from the air. "If you look at the enemy losses in February you can see an interesting trend - more dead than wounded - perhaps due to the fact that they are more stationary and (personnel) are more concentrated."

Russian forces in the Kharkiv sector of the front line have suffered more irrecoverable losses than wounded over the past month, Volodymyr Degtyaryov, spokesperson for Ukraine's "Khartia" brigade, said on March 4.

"If you look at the enemy's losses in February, you can see an interesting trend — more dead than wounded. Perhaps this is due to the fact that they have less movement and more (personnel) concentrations," Degtyaryov told Ukrainian media Suspilne.

He noted that Russian forces rarely use vehicles, as Ukrainian troops have established a "dead zone" extending 10 kilometers into Russian-occupied areas, allowing Ukrainian forces to maintain control over the sector from the air.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

 

"Of course, they have offensive potential, but we are doing everything we can to prevent them from doing so," Degtyaryov added.

The situation in Kharkiv Oblast as of March 4, 2025. The area marked in red is the territory occupied by Russia. (DeepState/OpenStreetMaps)

Kharkiv Oblast, which shares a direct border with Russia, remains a major flashpoint in the ongoing war.

Moscow launched an offensive in the region on May 10, 2024, advancing up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) before Ukrainian defenders halted the push at the first line of defense.

During the first month of the offensive, Russian forces suffered around 4,000 casualties, including both killed and wounded, according to Ukraine's military.

Despite their losses, Russian troops still control several villages on two axes in Kharkiv Oblast — one near Lyptsi and the other near the embattled town of Vovchansk.