KYIV, Ukraine — With every toll of the bell, Russia marked another year since the Soviet Union’s monumental victory over Nazi Germany, known as Victory Day. Amid the remembrance, however, was a stark contrast. While Victory Day was commemorated with subdued pageantry in Moscow’s Red Square, reports of Russian losses on the battlefields in Ukraine served as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.

In a sad revelation, the Ukrainian armed forces announced on Wednesday that Russia had suffered severe losses within a single day of combat. Although not independently verified, the figures disclosed painted a grim picture: two tanks, 18 armored vehicles, and 690 troops. This grave news emerges as Russia, while commemorating past glories, continues to grapple with its current military impasse in Ukraine.

Anticipation of Counteroffensive Amid Rising Losses

The timing of these reported losses is significant. They fall within the shadow of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, which were scaled down this year, and ahead of an expected counteroffensive from Ukrainian forces. As a result, this subject has been a buzzing hive of speculation for weeks now.