Ukraine Counteroffensive: Weapon Losses and Western Gear on the Frontline

In the early weeks of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, reports indicated that as many as one in five weapons sent to the frontline sustained damage or were destroyed. The figures, cited by American and European officials in several media briefings, included a number of Western-made battle machines such as tanks and armored personnel carriers that Ukrainian forces rely on to confront Russian units. Over the following weeks, the casualty rate among these Western vehicles reportedly declined to around 10 percent as the momentum of the assault slowed. A Ukrainian soldier who gave his name as Igor described battlefield footage captured by his unit’s drone, showing six armored vehicles from Western suppliers coming under artillery fire and being set ablaze. The soldier’s account was reported by outlets compiling eyewitness and official statements (attribution: Reuters).