- Ukraine's General Staff reports Russian losses reach 880,000 killed/wounded as of Jan 31, with 1,880 personnel lost in past 24 hours across all fronts.
- Ukrainian forces destroyed 20 Russian artillery systems including 2S19 Msta-S howitzers, plus 1,200 projectiles during intense Donetsk Oblast combat.
- 52 Russian strike drones (Lancet, Shahed) and 37 armoured vehicles (T-72s, BMP-2s) eliminated through air defence, Javelin strikes and FPV drones.
- Heavy fighting concentrated on Pokrovsk, Kurakhove axes; Moscow commits fresh battalions but suffers disproportionate casualties in assaults.
- Western aid (HIMARS, F-16s, artillery shells) sustains Kyiv's defences; Russia faces recruitment challenges amid unsustainable monthly loss rates.
Kyiv (Washington Insider Magazine) January 31, 2026 – The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Russian troop losses reached 880,000 soldiers killed or wounded as of January 31, with 1,880 personnel eliminated in the previous 24 hours. Ukrainian military sources also documented the destruction of 20 artillery systems alongside 1,200 projectiles, 52 drones and 37 armoured vehicles during intense frontline combat operations. Moscow has not issued official casualty figures, while Western assessments continue to track cumulative Russian losses across multiple fronts.
Ukrainian battlefield updates detailed sustained Russian assaults across eastern and southern fronts, where Moscow's forces sustained heavy casualties while attempting positional advances. Kyiv's forces reported successful defensive operations that inflicted disproportionate losses, destroying significant enemy materiel including Russian 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers and electronic warfare stations.
The daily tally reflects ongoing attrition warfare patterns observed throughout the conflict's third year.
Ukrainian General Staff Documents Record Daily Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff's daily update specified that Russian forces lost 1,880 soldiers over the past day, contributing to the cumulative total of 880,000 irreversibly lost personnel since February 2022. This figure encompasses both killed in action and those wounded beyond return to combat duties, according to Kyiv's methodology.
Additional equipment losses included 20 artillery systems, comprising towed guns and self-propelled units actively supporting Russian assaults. Ukrainian forces reported destroying 1,200 artillery projectiles, significantly degrading Moscow's capacity to conduct sustained bombardments. The tally also documented 52 strike drones and 37 armoured fighting vehicles eliminated through defensive counteractions.
Frontline reports indicated intensified Russian activity around Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka axes, where Ukrainian units repelled multiple mechanised assaults. Russian forces employed small infantry groups supported by drones and artillery, suffering heavy casualties during approach phases before reaching Ukrainian positions.
Russian Artillery Systems Suffer Major Setback
Among the 20 destroyed artillery systems, Ukrainian drone operators targeted several advanced Russian platforms including the 2S19 Msta-S 152mm self-propelled howitzers and 2S1 Gvozdika systems. These losses occurred during counter-battery operations conducted by Ukraine's artillery units and FPV drone teams operating in Donetsk Oblast.
The destruction of 1,200 artillery projectiles represents a significant blow to Russian fire support capabilities, as these munitions sustain Moscow's signature tactic of preparatory barrages before infantry assaults. Ukrainian sources credited improved counter-battery radar systems and loitering munitions for achieving these results.
Western-supplied systems including American M109 Paladin howitzers and British AS90 tracked guns supported Ukraine's artillery response, maintaining favourable fire ratios despite ammunition constraints. The General Staff emphasised that Russian artillery losses have accelerated since the arrival of additional NATO-standard platforms.
Drone Warfare Escalates on Multiple Fronts
Russian forces lost 52 strike drones over the reporting period, primarily Lancet and Shahed-type platforms intercepted during approach to Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian air defence units, equipped with Western-supplied Patriot and NASAMS systems, achieved high interception rates while FPV interceptors neutralised low-altitude threats.
Ukrainian drone strikes meanwhile penetrated deep into Russian rear areas, targeting ammunition depots, command posts and logistics nodes. Reports confirmed hits on Russian positions in occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, where drone-delivered munitions destroyed armoured vehicles and fuel storage.
The mutual escalation in drone usage reflects both sides' increasing reliance on unmanned systems to reduce personnel exposure while maintaining offensive pressure. Ukraine reported capturing several downed Russian drones for reverse-engineering purposes.
Armoured Vehicle Losses Reflect Intense Mechanised Combat
The destruction of 37 Russian armoured vehicles included T-72B3 and T-80BV main battle tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and MT-LB multi-purpose carriers. These losses occurred during failed assaults on fortified Ukrainian positions near key Donetsk population centres.
Ukrainian tank hunters operating Soviet-era platforms alongside Western-supplied Abrams and Challenger 2 tanks achieved multiple tank kills using Javelin anti-tank missiles and drone-dropped grenades. The engagements demonstrated Kyiv's continued effectiveness in anti-armour warfare despite numerical disadvantages.
Russian forces committed fresh mechanised units from rear staging areas, only to encounter pre-planned Ukrainian kill zones featuring mines, remote-controlled machine guns and artillery spotters. Survivors withdrew under covering fire, abandoning damaged vehicles.
Eastern Front Remains Epicentre of Heavy Fighting
Pokrovsk direction saw the highest concentration of Russian assaults, with Moscow committing up to six battalions in rotation against Ukrainian defences. Ukrainian 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade reported repelling 28 attacks, destroying 12 Russian tanks and eliminating over 400 enemy infantry.
Kurakhove axis experienced similar intensity, where Russian airborne troops attempted penetration toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast borders. Ukrainian 72nd Mechanised Brigade's drone company achieved 18 confirmed vehicle kills, including three rare Russian BMPT Terminator support vehicles.
Velyka Novosilka sector remained active with Russian marines probing Ukrainian lines near Staromayorske and Urozhaine. Kyiv's forces maintained cohesive defences, using terrain advantages to channel attackers into pre-sighted artillery zones.
Southern Front Sees Sustained Positional Combat
Kherson Oblast bridgehead operations continued with Russian forces attempting to expand lodgements on left bank Dnieper River positions. Ukrainian missile and artillery strikes targeted Russian pontoon crossings and ammunition stockpiles, contributing to personnel losses.
Zaporizhzhia front featured artillery duels between Russian 58th Combined Arms Army and Ukrainian 128th Mountain Assault Brigade. Ukrainian forces reported destroying two Russian electronic warfare systems that had jammed Ukrainian drones for weeks.
Ukrainian GUR special forces conducted cross-river raids, eliminating Russian observation posts and capturing documents detailing Moscow's reinforcement plans. These operations forced Russian units to maintain high alert levels, increasing vulnerability to artillery strikes.
Cumulative Losses Reflect Three Years of Attrition
The 880,000 total represents approximately 40 per cent growth since January 2025, when Ukrainian estimates stood at 630,000. Western intelligence assessments generally align with Kyiv's figures, though some analysts project slightly lower numbers accounting for rotations and rear echelon casualties.
British Ministry of Defence updates have tracked Russian losses exceeding 900,000 total casualties when including lightly wounded personnel. US European Command assessments confirm Moscow's monthly loss rates averaging 25,000-30,000 personnel across all categories.
Ukrainian methodology excludes Russian mercenaries, North Korean auxiliaries and irregular forces from main casualty counts, focusing on contract soldiers and conscripts. Independent verification remains challenging due to restricted access to combat zones and Russian information controls.
Western Aid Continues Supporting Ukrainian Defences
Recent US security assistance packages totalling $1.2 billion included additional HIMARS launchers, 155mm artillery shells and F-16 maintenance kits. European allies delivered 200,000 155mm rounds through March US-Europe ammunition initiative.
Denmark transferred 24 F-16 fighters with full munitions packages, while Netherlands completed Patriot system delivery. UK's Storm Shadow missile stocks replenished Ukrainian air-launched cruise missile inventories.
These deliveries enabled sustained defensive operations despite Russian numerical advantages in artillery and glide bombs. Ukrainian forces rationed precision munitions for high-value targets while relying on contact shells for area suppression.
Russian Reinforcement Challenges Persist
Moscow struggles to replace losses through expanded recruitment drives offering financial incentives and contract extensions. Recent decrees lowered minimum conscription age to 18 and extended mobilisation authority to occupied territories.
North Korean military engineers arrived in Donetsk, tasked with fortification construction and ammunition handling. Reports indicate Cuban mercenaries deployed to Kharkiv front, supplementing Russian contract forces.
Russian military bloggers criticised command decisions committing fresh units into attritional assaults without adequate reconnaissance or fire support. Internal MoD assessments reportedly project unsustainable loss rates continuing through 2026.
International Monitoring Tracks Escalating Toll
OSCE special monitoring mission documented increased ceasefire violations coinciding with Russian spring offensives. United Nations human rights office verified over 12,000 civilian casualties since invasion began, predominantly in government-controlled areas.
International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian commanders overseeing assaults on Mariupol and Bakhmut. Human Rights Watch documented unlawful use of cluster munitions by both sides during 2025 winter campaign.
NATO battle staffs maintained real-time tracking of Russian force generation capacity, projecting 18-month window before Moscow achieves equilibrium with Ukrainian-Western capabilities. Warsaw Pact-era equipment continues forming bulk of Russian armoured losses.
The reported losses underscore grinding positional warfare characterising Ukraine conflict's third anniversary, with both sides committing significant resources to limited territorial gains.