In a devastating turn of events, Russian infantry forces are sustaining staggering losses in the ongoing conflict in Vovchansk, Ukraine. The Russian military's decision to refrain from deploying armored vehicles in the area has proved fatal, as Ukrainian drones and artillery relentlessly target them. With casualty rates soaring, the total number of Russian casualties since spring and summer is now estimated to exceed half a million, while Ukraine's own losses remain considerably lower.

Despite the bloodshed, the conflict shows no sign of abating. The Kremlin continues to rapidly recruit and provide minimal training to around 30,000 fresh troops each month, effectively replenishing existing units and forming new ones. This strategy ensures that monthly losses can be mitigated, even as Russian soldiers perish in alarming numbers in Vovchansk and other contested towns.

Vovchansk, which became the primary battleground of Russia's northern offensive since May 10, has witnessed Ukrainian brigades, including the 82nd Air Assault Brigade armed with American munitions, fiercely contesting the Russian forces street by street, building by building. This determined resistance successfully halted the Russian advance in late May. Today, the town has transformed into an infantry killing field, with Russian soldiers predominantly bearing the brunt of the casualties.

Curiously, Russian commanders have opted against utilizing their armored vehicles, despite possessing comparable options for urban combat, such as the BTR-82 wheeled armored personnel carriers. While these vehicles could provide a degree of protection, they remain largely unused, prompting criticism from experts. The decision to rely solely on infantry without proper armor seems inexplicable and suggests a disregard for the lives of Russian soldiers on the part of commanders.

The consequences of this tactical choice have been dire. Over a period of 28 months, Russia's military has lost approximately 4,000 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, averaging around 150 destroyed vehicles per month. Conversely, Ukraine's losses stand at about a thousand APCs and IFVs since February 2022, averaging 30 vehicles per month. Moreover, Russia's loss rate is rapidly increasing. In May alone, they suffered an astonishing 288 APCs and IFVs destroyed.

The Ukrainian armed forces have recently gained access to a significant amount of American-made artillery shells and have expanded their production of explosive first-person-view drones. Equipped with these resources, Ukrainian brigades can now effectively strike at every Russian vehicle spotted by their surveillance drones. This shift in firepower has presented a major challenge for the Russian military.

Despite limited production capabilities, Russia's industry can only build or regenerate around a thousand APCs and IFVs per year. This falls far short of the number needed to compensate for the current loss rate. As a result, Russian commanders are under increasing pressure to conserve their heavier armored vehicles, leading to more infantry assaults being carried out on motorcycles or in all-terrain vehicles that offer little protection.

The scarcity of heavy vehicles may have contributed to the recent unfortunate incident involving a Russian infantry assault in central Vovchansk. Up to 400 Russian soldiers found themselves surrounded in a chemical plant and bombarded by the Ukrainian air force. It is speculated that the Russian force lacked the necessary heavy vehicles to break through and provide support to the trapped troops. Alternatively, if they did have the vehicles, they were unwilling to risk them for a rescue operation.

As the conflict in Vovchansk intensifies, the reliance on infantry troops without adequate armor proves to be a fatal flaw for the Russian military. With casualties mounting and heavy vehicles in short supply, the situation remains precarious for the besieged Russian forces on the ground. The loss of valuable vehicles is deemed less significant than the cost of losing infantry troops, resulting in a detrimental impact on the overall effectiveness of Russian operations in the region.