Syrskyy thanks the defenders on the tenth anniversary of the anti-terrorist operation
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Ukraine
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Syrskyy thanks the defenders on the tenth anniversary of the anti-terrorist operation

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Oleksandr Syrskyy

Exactly 10 years ago, on April 14, 2014, an anti-terrorist operation was launched in eastern Ukraine in compliance with the decision of the National Security Council.

Syrskyy called to remember the fallen participants of the anti-terrorist operation

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyy noted that the announcement of the Anti-Terrorist Operation was a reaction to the capture of Sloviansk by a special unit of the FSB of the Russian Federation led by an international criminal, on the order of the head of the Kremlin.

The Commander-in-Chief noted that at that time he had honorably performed the duties of the Chief of Staff of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, the Deputy Head of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, and the Head of the Anti-Terrorist Operation.

I sincerely thank every Ukrainian defender who then, in the spring of 2014, joined the ranks of the units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine to protect our Motherland from Russian terrorists and aggressors who brought suffering and death to our land. Thank you to everyone who defended and defends the independence of Ukraine.

Oleksandr Syrskyy

Oleksandr Syrskyy

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces called to remember and commemorate all Ukrainian defenders who laid down their lives for the freedom of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Eternal glory and eternal memory to our heroes! The struggle continues. Everyone who took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation learned very well that the Ukrainian sun rises behind the tericonos in Donbas! We are doing everything to free our land. We will win! Glory to Ukraine!

The beginning of ATO: what is known

As you know, on April 12, 2014, a Russian sabotage squad led by Igor Girkin took control of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Lyman, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and Bakhmut.

On April 13, the NSDC announced the decision to start the Anti-Terrorist Operation, and the operation itself began on April 14.

One of the first tasks of the ATO was to liberate Sloviansk.

The anti-terrorist operation lasted from April 14, 2014 to April 30, 2018. After the anti-terrorist operation, the operation of the United Forces (JOF) was introduced in the east of Ukraine.

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Ukraine
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How many soldiers did the Russian army lose in 2024 — data from American analysts

Russia paid a heavy price for the captured territories of Ukraine
Source:  ISW

According to ISW data, the aggressor country Russia lost over 420 thousand soldiers advancing through the territory of Ukraine and the Kursk region in 2024. What is important to understand is that the enemy captured only 4,168 square kilometers of territory, which mostly consists of fields and small settlements.

Points of attention

  • The advance of Russian troops slowed in the last month of 2024, but daily losses remained high.
  • The record losses of personnel in the Russian army are due to the Kremlin's desire to seize as much territory in Ukraine as possible.
  • The active recruitment of new recruits indicates Russia's attempts to replace the record losses of its forces in 2024.

Russia paid a heavy price for the captured territories of Ukraine

The American Institute for the Study of War draws attention to the fact that over the past year, the Russian army lost an average of 102 occupiers for every square kilometer of captured territory.

What is important to understand is that the largest enemy advance was recorded between September and November 2024.

During this time, the aggressor country gained 56.5% of its territorial gains, paying for it with the lives of 125,800 of its soldiers.

Photo: understandingwar.org

Analysts emphasize that the Kremlin dared to suffer record personnel losses from September to November 2024, seeking to capture as much territory as possible.

However, it remains unclear whether the Russian military command will continue to tolerate such losses if the pace of Russian troop advance slows as the occupation forces continue to advance on better-defended settlements, such as Pokrovsk.

Photo: understandingwar.org

The Russian army's offensive has already slowed down

American analysts point out that over the past month, the Russian occupiers have indeed slowed down the pace of their offensive on the battlefield.

It is worth noting that they only gained 593 square kilometers, which is 18.1 square kilometers per day.

Despite this, daily losses of the Russian army remained high. This is an average of about 1,585 people per day, which was the fourth historical maximum for Russia.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on December 24 that 440,000 new recruits have signed military service contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2024, indicating that Russia is likely recruiting just enough military personnel to replace recent high one-to-one casualty rates, the ISW team warns.

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