Russia Loses 25 Tanks and 59 Armored Vehicles in Pokrovsk Since September, ISW Reports

Since September 6, 2024, Russian troops have lost 25 tanks and 59 armored vehicles in the Pokrovsk area, equating to approximately two battalions of mechanized equipment, as stated by Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on October 6.

“The X user [tracking visually confirmed Russian vehicle and equipment losses in Ukraine] stated that Russian forces have lost a total of 539 tanks (roughly a division and a half's worth of Russian tanks) and 1,020 infantry fighting vehicles (roughly four to five mechanized infantry divisions’ worth of vehicles) during offensive operations in Pokrovsk [direction] and specified that Ukrainian forces destroyed 381 of the 539 Russian tanks and 835 of the 1,020 armored vehicles. The X user noted that he confirmed that Russian forces lost 25 tanks and 59 armored vehicles (roughly two battalions' worth of mechanized equipment) in Pokrovsk [direction] since September 6, 2024,” the statement reads.

Additionally, the data indicates that Russian troops have also lost 26 infantry fighting vehicles, 22 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 11 towed artillery systems, and 92 unarmored trucks.

ISW analysts note that since not all losses of Russian equipment are visually documented, the true number of losses in the Pokrovsk area is likely much higher.

The publication states that “a loss of over five divisions’ worth of equipment for such tactical gains is not sustainable indefinitely without a fundamental shift in Russia‘s capability to resource its war.”

“Russia will likely struggle to adequately supply its units with materiel in the long term without transferring the Russian economy to a wartime footing and significantly increasing Russia's defense industrial production rates — a move that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to avoid thus far,” ISW concludes.

The Pokrovsk direction remains one of the most difficult directions in Ukraine, with heavy fighting continuing. The Russian forces set the goal of capturing the city of Pokrovsk, which is an important logistical and defense center.