Russia Intensifies “Meat-Grinder” Tactics on the Battlefield
Russia is significantly escalating its so-called “meat-grinder” missions, inundating the front lines with waves of troops in a calculated effort to overpower Ukrainian defenses and seize control of more territory. However, this strategy, which essentially involves sending soldiers into combat with little regard for their survival, has resulted in a staggering number of casualties for the Russian military. Thousands of soldiers are understood to have perished during these high-risk operations, while those who refuse to comply with these orders face dire consequences.
One of the latest offensives has witnessed President Vladimir Putin’s forces attempting to establish a foothold across the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, a critical area that Moscow aims to consolidate under its control. Ukrainian officials have characterized this relentless assault as both costly and ambitious, a reflection of shifting diplomatic circumstances following Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency and his intention to suspend military aid to Ukraine. “Every single day they are trying to cross,” noted Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin during a recent visit to the UK. Intelligence insights have revealed that a Russian deputy commander has ordered troops to execute the river crossing “at any cost.” Yet, not all soldiers are willing to adhere to these commands.
The Trump Effect: A Diplomatic Shift Favoring Moscow
Moscow has long considered Kherson—one of four Ukrainian regions it has illegally annexed—as vital to its broader war objectives. Together with Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, this region plays a central role in Russia’s ambition to alter Ukraine’s borders. Prokudin hinted that Russian forces have been directed to secure the western bank of the Dnipro to leverage this position in any future peace negotiations. Amid ongoing diplomatic initiatives to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin has intensified its military campaign, deploying drones, artillery, and personnel into frontline confrontations.
Analysts suggest that Russia has become emboldened by Trump’s perceived alignment with Moscow’s stance, which includes dismissing the prospect of Ukraine’s NATO membership and expressing a willingness to redraw borders based on current frontlines. Furthermore, a public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Trump accused him of “gambling with World War Three,” has added to the complexity of the situation. John Lough, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia programme and a former NATO representative in Moscow, commented that both Russia and Ukraine are keen to position themselves advantageously ahead of any ceasefire. “Both understand that this may become the new border if the conflict is frozen along this line,” he remarked.
Where Russia is Directing Its “Meat-Grinder” Missions
On the battlefield, Russian forces persist in their advance, employing brutal tactics reminiscent of the attritional warfare seen over the past three years. Moscow has mobilized thousands of prisoners and inadequately trained soldiers in specialized Storm-Z and Storm-V battalions, frequently dispatching them on perilous missions without sufficient support. Alexander Lord, the lead Eurasia analyst at the intelligence firm Sibylline, stated, “The Russians are seeking to exploit this diplomatic window. The pace of their assaults remains relentless across the front line.”
Beyond the initiatives in Kherson, Russian forces are also prioritizing the capture of Pokrovsk, a critical Ukrainian defensive position. “Ukrainian sources indicate they have managed to stabilize the front with counterattacks. Russians have been engaged there for six months, making progress last month, but recent Ukrainian offensives have pushed them back to the outskirts,” explained Lord. The Kremlin remains focused on advancing in the eastern front, particularly in Donetsk. “Cities remain the ultimate objective for Russian forces, yet the likelihood of capturing them is diminishing,” Lord added. “Instead, they aim to apply pressure on Kostyantynivka, hoping to seize it by spring while eyeing Sloviansk and Kramatorsk further north.” He concluded, “Despite extreme casualties, Russia appears capable of absorbing these losses in the short to medium term. Their strategy is clear: grind forward, collapse Ukraine’s defenses, and steadily claim territory.”
Consequences for Refusing Orders
According to Britain’s defense ministry, December 2024 marked one of the most devastating months for Russian forces since the war’s inception, with the Ukrainian General Staff reporting 48,670 casualties. On December 19, Russia experienced “a new war high” of 2,200 losses in a single day, as per the British defense ministry. In November alone, Russia recorded 45,680 casualties. The i Paper has not independently verified these battlefield updates. Analysis conducted by the BBC and independent media organization Mediazona estimates that more than 95,000 personnel fighting for the Russian military have lost their lives since the conflict began.
The involvement of North Korean soldiers in the fight against Ukraine, particularly in Russia’s Kursk region, has also added an intriguing dimension to the conflict, although their influence has been minimal. North Korea, boasting an estimated 1.2 million troops, holds the position of one of the largest standing armies worldwide. However, its military has been largely untested in modern warfare, which includes advanced technologies like drones and modern weaponry. “For the first time in decades, the North Korean army is gaining real military experience,” remarked Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, earlier this year. “This is a global challenge—not just for Ukraine and Europe, but for the entire world.” Despite their discipline, the lack of combat experience has impeded their effectiveness, with the Ukrainian military reporting that North Korean troops have suffered significant casualties, often at the hands of drones.
Estimates suggest that hundreds of North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured while fighting for Russia, and many have been withdrawn from the front lines due to the high casualty rate. However, the repercussions for soldiers who refuse to engage in these missions can be severe. In September, footage emerged showing two Russian soldiers foreseeing their own deaths after being ordered on a suicide mission as punishment for disputing their commander. The men, identified as Russian drone operators, cautioned others against joining the “callous” Russian military in a video released posthumously and initially reported by The Telegraph. “Please, don’t serve in the Ministry of Defence… Your task is to die here so that the regiment commander, reporting to higher-ups, looks good. You are his personal serfs,” one of them, Dmitry Lysakovsky, stated.
According to Atesh, an underground resistance group targeting Russian infrastructure in occupied Ukrainian territories, Russian soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia region refused to advance in October. Members of Russia’s 1440th Motorized Rifle Regiment were later detained by Moscow’s military police for allegedly rejecting orders to be used as cannon fodder in Putin’s “meat-grinder” missions.
Grave Consequences on the Battlefield
Following Trump’s resurgence in the White House, U.S. officials have engaged in discussions with Russian counterparts in Riyadh, notably excluding Ukrainian representatives from negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. The subsequent decision to freeze military assistance to Ukraine—including essential artillery shells and Patriot missile systems—has dealt a significant blow to Ukrainian morale and operational capabilities. Experts project that Ukraine can maintain its current level of operations for only a few more months, with artillery stocks potentially dwindling by early summer unless replenished by European allies. Meanwhile, Moscow is seizing this opportunity to advance its offensives.
“Trump has shifted the negotiating center of gravity east toward Moscow,” asserted Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia programme. “Russia has gained the upper hand.”
Fracturing Western Unity
Trump’s stance on Ukraine has already led to significant rifts among Western allies. UK Defence Secretary John Healey is expected to travel to Washington in an effort to persuade Trump to restore military support. Concurrently, European leaders are exploring alternatives to Starlink for battlefield communications, wary of potential future disruptions.
Despite Trump’s pressure tactics, Zelensky has remained resolute, warning that hasty peace talks without adequate guarantees would lead to disaster for Ukraine. Trump, on the other hand, continues to advance his own agenda, promoting a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine—an agreement that Kyiv has thus far resisted signing. In his address to Congress recently, Trump claimed to have received an “important letter” from Zelensky, quoting the Ukrainian president as expressing readiness to engage in negotiations to bring lasting peace closer.
As the situation unfolds with aid to Ukraine suspended, Russian forces advancing, and the Ukrainian military’s capabilities under strain, the coming weeks could be pivotal in determining the war’s trajectory. While the U.S. President pursues what critics label a “quick-fix” peace deal, Moscow appears poised to continue its relentless advance.
