Russia gains ground on Ukraine as an estimated 600,000 Russians reported dead or wounded since start of war

US officials stated on Wednesday that Russia has made consistent progress against Ukraine in recent weeks. However, their efforts have come at a significant cost. Last month brought the deadliest battles since the conflict began three years ago, and an estimated 600,000 Russians have died or been wounded since President Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon said.

Over the past few months, Russian forces have been gaining ground in eastern Ukraine, capturing several critical towns that Ukrainians have fiercely defended in the midst of major Russian attacks, Politico reported.

Both Russia and Ukraine have reported a similar estimate of casualties. Russia has sustained 40 times more losses than its invasion of Afghanistan in the 1990s, which spanned over a decade.

Reports that Moscow has gained ground in recent weeks come as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy has been visiting allied countries and shopping around his "plan for victory," asking leaders in Washington, D.C., and Europe to pledge more resources such as military weapons and equipment. However, his primary request was shot down across the aisle with the US, UK, and Germany denying to lift restrictions on long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.

The Pentagon said that analysts are of the opinion that Ukraine can continue the conflict from within Russia for several months before the Russians are able to coordinate an effective response. Russia is reportedly facing logistical challenges in repositioning troops and organizing an offensive attack.