Report to Congress on Russian Military Performance

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | MAY 29, 2025 | U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE STAFF

[Retain Mike]

Despite the advantages of a larger recruitment base and defense industrial capacity, the Russian military has not been able to decisively defeat the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

As of April 2025, U.S. officials estimate Russia has suffered over 790,000 killed and wounded. Other estimates place Russian casualties as high as 900,000. These rates arguably reflect Russia’s continued use of high-casualty tactics—including a reliance on massed personnel attacks and massed artillery fire—and limited operational-level flexibility.

Russian law prohibits the combat deployment of conscripts, leading the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) to prioritize recruitment of contract soldiers. Contract recruits may earn high salaries as well as sign-on bonuses offered by both regional and federal authorities. MoD salaries may be several times the average Russian monthly wage (including sign-on bonuses reportedly as high as 22 times the monthly wage), as well as additional payments should soldiers be killed or wounded.

Russia’s offensive operations continue to focus on eastern Ukraine. Russian forces seek to leverage quantitative advantages in firepower and personnel and conduct heavy casualty-prone operations to wear down the UAF.

The Russian military also has reportedly adjusted its tactics to focus on small unit assaults, upgraded its communication systems and processes, and improved artillery targeting. It has deployed new equipment and tactics to counter UAF operations, including by increasing the use of drones, difficult-to-intercept glide bombs, and electronic warfare. Russian logistics also have successfully adapted several times over the course of the conflict in response to improved UAF long-range strike capabilities provided by the United States and other Western allies.

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TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: butbutbutpoootler; russia; ukraine; war

[Kazan]

Pokrovsk Western Front Collapsed l Another Ukrainians Withdrawal

[ Ukraine Frontline Changes ] OVERRUN~!!! Russian forces secures entire northern parts of Toretsk!

RUAF Capture Fedorivka & Kindrashivka | AFU Risk Large Encirclement Near Kupyansk & Toretsk

[Red6]

Nothing new.

[BenLurkin]

A war for the Ukraine’s wheat, minerals, and industrial capability fought between the nascent Fourth Reich and the resurgent Russian Empire.

A pox on both their houses.