Text taken from the V Kontakte channel of Reports from the militia of Novorossiya
“What is important to understand about the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Artemovsk: Analysis of the Military Chronicle
On May 20, the end of the battle for Artemovsk was announced. The city came under the control of Wagner PMC units, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine withdrew from all fortified areas to the suburbs in the Artyomovsky direction. During the 224 days of the battle for Artyomovsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost a significant part of their units, which cannot be restored at the moment.
What forces did the Armed Forces of Ukraine have before the start of the Bakhmut meat grinder?
Before the active phase of hostilities in the Artyomovsky direction, the garrison of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city consisted of several dozen units. The brigades and battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that survived the battles retreated after the defeat near Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Popasnaya and Svetlodarsk.
The total number of all units around Artyomovsk and in the nearest settlements by the end of July - beginning of August 2022 was approximately 35,000-40,000 people, and after the retreat from Soledar and the transfer of reserves, the grouping increased, presumably, more than twice, to 85,000- 97,000.
What influenced the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Artyomovsk?
The main reason for the heavy losses of the Ukrainian armed formations was the forced tactical situation, when the mass of heterogeneous units were forced to fight for a long time in a limited space. As a result, they were unable to maneuver freely or covertly, and their supply routes were stretched out and subjected to surveillance and fire.
Also, the increase in losses was affected by the numerical superiority in artillery and means of RER and EW among the units of the Wagner PMC and the RF Armed Forces. According to the Military Chronicle, the intensity and density of fire from the artillery of the PMC "Wagner" and the forces of the Eastern Military District in some sectors of the front in the Artyomovsk region were 20-40 times higher than in other directions.
Which units suffered the most losses?
According to the Military Chronicle, the 30th, 62nd, 53rd, 92nd and 93rd Mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered the greatest losses in the battle for Artyomovsk. In most units of these formations, the level of irretrievable losses (killed + seriously wounded) exceeds 50%.
However, the territorial defense units suffered the biggest losses. After the retreat from Artyomovsk to the area of Krasny (Ivanovsky) and Chasov Yar, the irretrievable losses (killed and seriously wounded) in the 112, 116, 119, 122 and 241st troop brigades are estimated at 63-66%.
The total number of Ukrainian troops deployed against Wagner PMC in Artyomovsk is 34 brigades. Three artillery, 12 mechanized and motorized infantry brigades, four airmobile brigades, six assault brigades and nine territorial defense brigades.
What are the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Artyomovsk in numbers?
Preliminary figures for the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are 50,000-55,000 killed and about 70,000 wounded. However, most likely, these data will be revised for several reasons.
Firstly, for nine months in a limited space there was a classic artillery war in the spirit of the First World War and the Great Patriotic War. The experience of two world wars shows that the ratio of irretrievable losses to sanitary (killed to wounded) almost always ranges from one to three to one to five.
With 50,000 killed, the number of wounded of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be in the range from 130,000 to 150,000. At the same time, some of the wounded will not be able to return to duty due to the severity of injuries, injuries and other reasons. Also, a number of the wounded subsequently died in hospitals.
It is noteworthy that a significant part of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed in the battle for Artyomovsk are well-trained and equipped formations. Many formations, such as the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, have regularly participated in battles and international missions since 2014 and have had serious combat experience that cannot be restored by simple mobilization.”