Russia continues to throw troops into a meat grinder in Ukraine
'Since 2022, Russia has suffered more than 700,000 casualties in Ukraine,' former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in January. 'Now, that's more than Moscow has endured in all of its conflicts since World War II — combined. Russian casualties in Ukraine now surpass two-thirds of the total strength of the Russian military at the start of Putin's war of choice. In November 2024 alone, Russia lost nearly 1,500 troops a day.'
In this week's video, Thom Tran, an Army veteran and stand-up comedian, walks viewers through the story behind those numbers, whether Russia's military is truly crippled, or if its 'quantity over quality' approach to manning and equipment suggests that it can keep going.
Each week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, Task & Purpose will be bringing in military veterans to host segments on different topics. These videos will range from breakdowns of tactics and doctrine to explainers on new tech and weapons systems from a rank-and-file perspective.
If you enjoyed this week's video, please hop on over to our YouTube channel and follow the team there. And if you have suggestions for future topics our video team can cover, please hop in the comments and let us know.
Navy fires commanding officer, command master chief of expeditionary security squadron
The Marine Corps has settled the debate over the size of a rifle squad
Leg day: Army cuts down on number of paid parachutists
Navy commissions its newest submarine, the USS Iowa
Why veterans are the real target audience for 'Helldivers 2'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
12 minutes ago
- New York Post
Ten civilians killed in Ukraine, while Zelensky says troops fend off major Russian advance on frontline regions
Russia pummeled Ukraine overnight, killing 10 and injuring as many as 61 civilians, in part of a ramped up aerial campaign to advance strongman Vladimir Putin's war into the Eastern European country. The Kremlin targeted Ukraine's frontline regions with 208 drones and 27 missiles Saturday. In the southern Dnipro region, at least three Ukrainians were killed and six others wounded in the barrage, local officials on the ground reported. 7 At least three people died in the attack on Dnipro overnight. REUTERS The strikes shattered windows in a residential building, torched cars — and on the outskirts of the city flames engulfed an obliterated shopping center obliterated by a Russian missile, causing an apocalyptic-like scene on the streets of the war-torn country. The Kremlin targeted Ukraine's frontline regions with 208 drones and 27 missiles, according to officials. 'A scary night. A massive attack on the region,' Serhiy Lysak, Dnipro's regional governor, said on Telegram. 7 A shopping mall was hit by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro. REUTERS In the northeastern Sumy region, another person was killed and three others injured, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said troops blocked Russian troops from gaining ground deeper into the battleground region. Russia opened a new front in Sumy in early June, deploying 50,000 troops — three times the size of Kyiv's forces in the key battleground — and capturing around a dozen border villages. The region, a priority for the Kremlin, continues to face near-daily strikes. But, up until this point, Ukrainian forces have managed to maintain control over a bulk of the region. 7 A building in Sumy hit by a Russian drone overnight. REUTERS Meanwhile, Kharkiv faced a sustained aerial bombardment on Saturday. Ukraine's second-largest city was pounded by four guided aerial bombs, two ballistic missiles and 15 drones over a three-hour period. As many as 29 people were injured, including a child, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. 7 Ukrainians clear debris and replace broken windows at a residential building hit in Kharkiv. Getty Images The offensive inflicted damage on high-rise apartment buildings, roadways and communication networks in the area. Four of the injured were first responders — hit in a second strike targeting emergency crews helping help people wounded in the initial attack, Ukraine's State Emergency Situations Service said. 7 Rescuers tried to protect residents as they take shelter inside a basement of a residential building during the Russian drone strike on Kharkiv. via REUTERS Zelensky vowed swift retaliation. 'Russian military enterprises, Russian logistics, and Russian airports should feel that Russia's own war is now hitting them back with real consequences,' he posted on X. 'There can be absolutely no silence in response to such strikes, and Ukrainian long-range drones ensure this.' 7 In all, at least ten people died overnight in Ukraine, as the Kremlin continued to pound on the country. X/ZelenskyyUa Zelensky also said Saturday he received a report from the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service claiming sanctions have significantly slowed Russia's economic potential. He also said Kyiv's drone production this year will exceed projections from January. Some of those drones targeted multiple regions in Russia, as Ukraine's attacks on Moscow have heated up in recent months along the more than 620-mile frontline of the war. 7 At least 61 Ukrainians were wounded overnight in the Russian attacks. X/ZelenskyyUa A drone attack on the Rostov region, near the Ukrainian border, killed two people, officials reported. Another strike hit an unspecified industrial facility in the neighboring Stavropol region. Drones also targeted Moscow but were shot down, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down or intercepted 54 of Kyiv's drones in total overnight. The more than three-year-old war continued to rage on this week as both sides ended a failed third round of cease-fire talks in less than an hour Wednesday — but agreed to another planned prisoner swap. With wires


Bloomberg
12 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Thai Monks Remain in Temple as Violence Continues
Thai monks refuse to leave temple as border violence continues, while pensioners help displaced people in Surin province near Cambodian border. Thailand said its navy joined the army in repelling Cambodian attacks along the border, as fighting spread to new areas on the third day of a conflict that has killed more than 30 people. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russian parliament approves a bill punishing online searches for information deemed 'extremist'
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian parliament's upper house on Friday quickly approved a bill that punishes online searches for information officially branded 'extremist,' the latest in a series of moves by authorities to tighten control of the internet. The legislation makes what it describes as 'deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials' online punishable by a fine of up to the equivalent of $64. The bill, which was endorsed by the lower house earlier this week, is now set to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. The official definition of extremist activity is extremely broad and includes opposition groups like the Anti-Corruption Foundation, created by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and the 'international LGBT movement.' It's not clear how authorities will track down violators. Officials and lawmakers said ordinary internet users won't be affected and only those who methodically seek outlawed content will be targeted. They didn't explain how authorities would differentiate between them. Russians widely use VPN services for access to banned content, but authorities have sought to tighten restrictions and close the loopholes. The state communications watchdog has increasingly used technology to analyze traffic and block specific VPN protocols. Russian authorities have ramped up their multipronged crackdown on dissent after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, online censorship and prosecutions for social media posts and comments have soared. Multiple independent news outlets and rights groups have been shut down, labeled as 'foreign agents' or outlawed as 'undesirable.' Hundreds of activists and critics of the Kremlin have faced criminal charges. Solve the daily Crossword