Russia captures just 195 sq miles of territory in past six months

RUSSIA has only captured roughly 195 square miles of territory since October when it launched its current offensive along the front line in Ukraine, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said.

Analysts said that up to 1,000 Russians are being killed or injured per day, in near-suicidal attacks on Ukrainian positions and yet has only recaptured an area not much larger than Rutland, England’s smallest county.

But although Russia has captured a relatively small area, its forces still pose a major threat to Ukraine’s front lines because they are better equipped.

“Materiel constraints limit how Ukrainian forces can conduct effective defensive operations while also offering Russian forces flexibility in how to conduct offensive operations,” the ISW said.

Overnight, Russia launched one of its biggest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Officials said Russia fired 60 drones and 39 missiles at various targets including cities and energy infrastructure. Six people were injured in the Dnepropetrovsk region and one killed near south-eastern city Nikopol.

The approximate number of Russian troops that analysts say are being killed or injured per day in attacks on Ukraine

Ukraine’s air force has said that it shot down 84 of the missiles and drones, but officials have also said that Ukraine is running out of air defence missiles.

In his first interview since being appointed commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military last month, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi said that his forces were learning to adapt and fight with limited ammunition and soldiers but that plans to recruit another 500,000 troops had been downgraded.

“After reviewing our internal resources and clarifying the combat composition of the armed forces, this figure was significantly reduced,” he said, without giving a new target figure.

Gen Syrskyi took over as commanderin-chief last month after Valery Zaluzhny was fired by Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.

He added that in recent months and weeks, Russia had “significantly increased aviation activity, using KABs – guided aerial bombs that destroy our positions”.

Ukraine is pushing for the US Congress to pass a long-stalled $60billion (£48billion) military aid package for Kyiv.

“We hope to receive from our partners more air-defence systems and, most importantly, missiles,” Gen Syrskyi said.