Russian losses in Ukraine near 1.5 million, report estimates
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A recent report estimates that up to 1.4 million Russian soldiers have been killed, gone missing, or wounded during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report suggests that around 450,000 of these casualties are deaths, a figure nine times greater than Russia's total losses in all wars since World War II.
- The report also estimates Ukrainian losses at 520,000โ625,000 soldiers, with 125,000โ150,000 deaths, and notes a significant shift in the casualty ratio favoring Ukraine due to drone warfare.
A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates staggering Russian casualties in Ukraine, with up to 1.4 million soldiers killed, missing, or wounded. The report suggests that approximately 450,000 Russian soldiers have died, a figure that dwarfs their total losses in all conflicts since World War II.
These figures, based on assessments from U.S. and British governments, highlight the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict. Russia consistently underreports its losses, while Ukraine does not release its casualty figures. CSIS estimates Ukrainian losses at 520,000 to 625,000 soldiers, including 125,000 to 150,000 deaths.
The report also points to a significant shift in the casualty ratio, which has moved to nearly 8:1 in Ukraine's favor in the first half of this year, up from previous ratios of 2:1 to 3:1. This change is partly attributed to Ukraine's effective drone warfare and artificial intelligence capabilities. The intense use of drones has created a "kill zone" of 20โ40 kilometers on the eastern front, making movement extremely hazardous.
Despite these dangers, Russian commanders continue to send troops into these zones for reconnaissance. Over 90 percent of Russian casualties are reportedly attributed to drones. The report also notes a significant drop in the quality of recruits and a decline in enlistment numbers this year, with authorities resorting to police assistance and even enlisting individuals from prisons and streets, including the homeless and infirm.
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Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.