Russia Lost 740 Soldiers in Daily Attrition on Tuesday – General Staff

(KYIV) – Russian forces have suffered approximately 1,256,080 personnel losses since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, according to the latest figures released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 17 February 2026, the Russian military lost 740 soldiers and 1,851 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a single day of fighting. This high rate of attrition follows reports from January indicating that Russian monthly casualties, exceeding 31,700, have begun to outpace the Kremlin’s ability to replenish its ranks.

The scale of equipment destruction remains significant, with total losses including 11,681 tanks, 24,051 armoured combat vehicles, and 37,363 artillery systems. Recent operations also saw the destruction of one air defence system and 194 units of automotive equipment. The financial burden of these losses is substantial. At current market rates where 1 Russian Rouble equals approximately 0.013 US Dollars, the destruction of a single advanced T-90M tank, valued at roughly 418 million Roubles ($5.46 million), represents a significant drain on Moscow’s wartime economy.

Cumulative and Daily Russian Combat Losses As of 18 February 2026

Frontline activity reached a high intensity on Tuesday with 137 combat engagements recorded. The Russian military utilised 5,847 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,538 shellings against Ukrainian settlements and military positions. Aerial operations included one missile strike involving 28 missiles and 50 air strikes, with 109 guided aerial bombs deployed. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 75 instances of shelling were recorded, whilst the Southern Slobozhansky direction saw four separate assaults on Ukrainian positions near Vovchanski Khutory and Prylipka.

Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled multiple attacks across several key sectors. In the Kupyansk direction, three assaults were thwarted near Kurylivka and Novoosinove, while six attacks were halted in the Lyman sector. The Sloviansk direction saw nine attempted advances by the occupiers, specifically targeting areas such as Yampil and Sviato-Pokrovske. In the Kostiantynivka sector, Ukrainian forces faced 13 separate storms near Pleshchiivka and Shcherbynivka, with several engagements still ongoing as of the latest summary.

The Pokrovsk direction remains a focal point of conflict, where 16 Russian attacks were documented. Preliminary assessments suggest Ukrainian forces eliminated 26 occupiers and wounded 12 in this sector alone, alongside the destruction of 96 UAVs and two ammunition depots. Despite the sustained pressure, the General Staff noted that the Russian dictator’s forces did not conduct offensive actions in the Orikhiv or Prydniprovskyi directions, although these areas remained under threat from guided aerial bomb strikes.

Frontline Combat Engagements by Direction Data for Tuesday, 17 February 2026