In the bitterly contested Lyman direction of eastern Ukraine, a grim new chapter is unfolding in Russia’s ongoing war effort. According to recent reports from The Telegraph and corroborated by Ukrainian military officials, Russian troops are being sent into assaults against Ukrainian positions without basic protective gear such as helmets and body armor—a phenomenon that has become alarmingly common over the past several months.
Fresh footage from the Donetsk frontlines paints a harrowing picture: waves of Russian soldiers, many without even rudimentary protection, advancing toward Ukrainian lines. Most, according to Ukrainian commanders, do not survive long enough to reach the treeline or trenches. It’s a development that has not only shocked seasoned observers but also raised urgent questions about the Russian military’s strategy, supply situation, and the value placed on the lives of its own soldiers.
Ihor Komok, deputy commander of Ukraine’s 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade, told The Telegraph that this disturbing trend is a recent development. “Helmets were only worn in four groups out of the last 20,” Komok emphasized, highlighting the scale of the issue. He added, “This is a new trend. Especially when compared to last year, when there were practically no such cases. We can say that they are forced to fight without the necessary armor. They have to do it.”
In recent days, Ukrainian forces have reportedly repelled dozens of Russian attacks in the Lyman direction alone. The Russian military has responded by deploying infantry in large numbers, often under the cover of drones or, in some cases, riding motorcycles. Despite these tactics, the losses have been heavy and unrelenting. Some assault troops, according to Ukrainian accounts, are not even aware they are moving directly toward well-defended Ukrainian positions—misled by their own command’s assurances that “there is supposedly no enemy ahead.”
The lack of protective equipment among Russian troops is not merely a logistical oversight, but appears to be symptomatic of deeper problems within the Russian military machine. Dmytro Zhmailo, executive director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, explained to The Telegraph that the shortage of helmets and body armor reflects both the high casualty rate and Russia’s mounting economic woes. “The lack of appropriate equipment reflects the high losses of the Russian army, which led to a shortage of supplies, weapons and ammunition, as well as the fact that Russia’s ability to maintain its armed forces is declining amid economic problems,” Zhmailo said.
He further noted that the lack of protective gear is an “adaptation to the current conditions on the front line, where the Russian army suffers disproportionately high losses in daily ‘meat’ attacks.” The phrase “meat-grinder” has become shorthand among Ukrainian soldiers and Western analysts for Russia’s reliance on mass infantry assaults, particularly in the Donetsk region. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, these tactics have been a hallmark of Russian operations—characterized by waves of mobilized conscripts, prisoners, and untrained reservists thrown into battle with little support or equipment.
Multiple reports suggest that the Russian command may even be using the lack of protective armor as a form of punishment for soldiers who fail to follow orders. In some cases, troops are sent into battle “effectively to die,” forced to retrieve weapons from fallen comrades in the chaos of the frontline. Ukrainian fighters have also reported the use of so-called “camels”—unarmed Russian soldiers tasked solely with carrying ammunition to the front lines on foot. These individuals are almost always detected and destroyed by Ukrainian drones before they can complete their mission. “For the Russian command, they are merely expendable resources for achieving the Kremlin’s political goals,” Zhmailo stressed.
The scale of Russian casualties paints a stark picture. According to the General Staff, Russia has lost approximately 1,171,700 troops since the start of the full-scale invasion. The attrition shows no sign of abating: in the 24 hours preceding November 29, 2025, Russian forces reportedly suffered 910 casualties. On November 28 alone, the Russian army lost 910 servicemen, 15 armored combat vehicles, and 3 artillery systems, according to Ukrainian sources cited by UNN.
The reasons for these catastrophic losses are manifold. Analysts point to Russia’s persistent use of massed, poorly equipped infantry assaults as a key factor. The practice of sending large numbers of troops—many of whom are mobilized conscripts, prisoners, or untrained reservists—into battle without adequate gear has resulted in what military experts describe as “catastrophic losses.” In the Lyman direction, Russia has attempted to improve its positions through daily small-group attacks for months, but heavy casualties and chronic equipment shortages have stymied any significant gains.
Russian soldiers themselves are bearing the brunt of these decisions. Some are reportedly unaware of the true danger they face, having been told by their commanders that Ukrainian positions are unoccupied. Others are sent on missions with little hope of survival, tasked only with delivering ammunition or retrieving weapons from the dead. The moniker “camels” for ammunition carriers underscores the dehumanizing nature of these assignments.
Observers say the situation marks a sharp departure from Russian military practices earlier in the war, when even hastily mobilized troops were more likely to be issued basic protective gear. The recent trend—where only four out of the last 20 assault groups in the Lyman direction had helmets or body armor—signals a dramatic decline in both supply lines and the Russian military’s ability to sustain its forces in the field.
Behind these tactical decisions lies a broader context of economic strain and logistical breakdown. As Zhmailo and other experts have pointed out, Russia’s economy is struggling to keep pace with the immense demands of the war. Shortages of supplies, weapons, and ammunition are not just inconveniences—they are now shaping the very tactics employed on the battlefield, with lethal consequences for the rank-and-file.
For Ukrainian forces, the new Russian approach, while brutal, has not translated into significant territorial gains. On the contrary, the high rate of Russian casualties and the visible desperation in their tactics have served to bolster Ukrainian morale and reinforce the resolve of frontline units. Yet the cost in human lives—on both sides—remains staggering.
As the conflict grinds on, the images from the Donetsk frontlines serve as a sobering reminder of the war’s human toll. The sight of ill-equipped Russian soldiers advancing across open ground, vulnerable to drone strikes and machine-gun fire, is a testament to the brutal calculus driving the Kremlin’s strategy. It also raises uncomfortable questions about how long such tactics can be sustained—and at what further cost.
The war in Ukraine, now well into its third year, continues to evolve. But for the soldiers sent into battle without even the most basic protection, the stakes could not be more immediate—or more deadly.
