 "Ukraine war has claimed nearly 1.4 million troop casualties: Study")
Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine has led to around 1.4 million military casualties, according to a study by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion came eight years after Russia invaded and annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region.
While Russian leader Vladimir Putin had thought his forces would overrun Ukraine within weeks if not days and he would install a puppet ruler in Kyiv after overthrowing the administration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the war is now in its fourth year and Putin is nowhere near achieving the goals he set out with.
The CSIS study has assessed that Russia has suffered around 1 million military casualties and Ukraine has suffered 400,000 — the worst toll on either country since the World War II.
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Actual casualties of both sides are difficult to assess as Russian often undercounts its death to portray a false sense of victory and Ukraine does not release its casualty figures. The study is based on figures from US and British government estimates among other sources.
Russia pays heavy toll for war of attrition
Despite being stronger in every aspect, Russia has paid a heavy toll for the war on Ukraine — and it appears to be in a better place at least for now.
Out of around 1 million Russian casualties, around 250,000 soldiers have been killed, according to the study.
As for Ukraine, around 60-100,000 soldiers have been killed out of total 250,000 casualties.
Impact Shorts
View AllWhile Russia lost more soldiers overall, Ukraine’s share is higher. As Russia has a much larger population, and has foreign sources like North Korea providing several thousands of soldiers, it is in a much better position to absorb its losses.
Ukrainians are also outnumbered on the frontline as independent analysts have said that 400,000 Russian soldiers are facing around 250,000 Ukrainians.
Russia achieves little at high cost — But is it high enough?
The CSIS study found that Russian progress has halted for more than a year and its forces have progressed at some place at a pace of just around 165 feet a day.
Since January 2024, Russia has seized less than 1 per cent of Ukrainian territory, according to the study.
Overall, Russia controls around 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory, as per the Russia Matters project of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Out of this 19 per cent territory, Russia had occupied around 7 per cent with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the pro-Russia insurgency in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2022.
This means that Russia has suffered 1 million casualties, including 250,000 deaths, to capture just around 12 per cent territory in more than three years.
ALSO READ: With Russia’s terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender — not a peace deal
In addition to 1 million troop casualties, Russia has also lost nearly a third of its Black Sea fleet and a third of its long-range bomber and surveillance fleets, and some of its top generals.
Seth G Jones, a co-author of the CSIS study, told The New York Times, that the Russian campaign is among the slowest in modern history and Russia can only win if US President Donald Trump decides to end the support to Ukraine.
“They have suffered upwards of 1 million casualties. They have taken a tiny amount of territory and they have lost massive amounts of equipment…The Russians would hold the long-term balance of power if President Trump walks away. If the US doesn’t walk, Putin is in serious trouble,” said Jones.
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