Russian losses in Ukraine exceed 700,000 casualties, including both killed and wounded personnel, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to The General Staff of Ukraine.
The high casualty rates reflect a strategy employed by Russian forces that involves heavy infantry assaults often described as “meat grinder” tactics. This approach has led to substantial losses while attempting to make gradual territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Russia continues to recruit new soldiers at a rate of approximately 30,000 per month, aiming to sustain its military operations against Ukraine
The General Staff of Ukraine reports that Russian forces lost an additional 1,300 personnel in the previous 24 hours.
The reported material losses include over 9,000 tanks, 18,500 armored vehicles, and more than 20,000 artillery systems. The General Staff’s data also indicates significant losses in Russia’s air capabilities, with 369 aircraft and 329 helicopters destroyed since the war’s beginning.
On 28 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Times of India that Russia had lost about 650,000 military personnel killed and wounded in Ukraine.
In July, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russian losses on the front are three times higher than Ukrainian losses.
British Defense Ministry intelligence supported these claims of high Russian casualties, reporting that September saw record average daily losses of 1,271 Russian personnel.
The Wall Street Journal, citing US analysts, characterized September 2024 as the deadliest month for Russian forces in the conflict, with daily casualties reaching approximately 1,200.
Ukrainian losses
Regarding Ukrainian losses, Zelenskyy disclosed on 25 February that 31,000 Ukrainian military personnel had been killed during the two years of full-scale war. He declined to reveal the number of wounded personnel for strategic reasons.
Prior to these disclosures, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense had maintained a policy of keeping casualty figures classified until the end of martial law.
Related:
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- British Intel: Russia faces highest average daily personnel losses in February since start of war
- Zelenskyy: 31,000 Ukrainian troops killed vs 180,000 Russian losses in war
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