“Casualties” means those who are killed, wounded, missing, or taken prisoner during a war or fight. When people talk about Russian casualties in Ukraine, they usually mean both those who died and those who were wounded or missing.
Why the numbers are not exact
- Russia and Ukraine often give different numbers.
- Some data are secret.
- Some wounded may later die but not be counted right away.
- Some soldiers are missing or captured, and confirmation is hard.
- Independent sources try to count by names, reports, and war records, but there is a risk of error or incomplete information.
Estimates of Russian casualties
Here are some of the main estimates from recent credible reports:
- British intelligence says that since the full-scale invasion that started in February 2022, Russia has likely sustained about 1,118,000 casualties—this means killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
- According to a UK intelligence update in October 2025, Russia has had around 1,022,460 casualties since 2022, and about 236,000 of those occurred in 2025 alone.
- Other estimates are lower or higher depending on what is included (just deaths or deaths + wounded). For example:
- Independent media reported ~120,000 Russian soldiers killed since 2022, based on open-data sources.
- Some reports suggest between 460,000 and 728,000 Russian soldiers were killed and wounded from February 2022 to mid-2024.
- The Ukrainian General Staff estimates, plus Western intelligence, align in many reports around 1 million total Russian losses (all kinds of casualties) since 2022.
Trends and what they show
- The casualty rate has been high in certain periods, especially during major offensives.
- In 2025, daily and monthly numbers show that Russia continues to suffer more losses in both killed and wounded.
- Some months show lower daily losses compared to previous months, but overall the burden remains very high.
Why the high losses matter
- Human cost: Each loss is a life changed or ended, and many wounded may have long-term health issues.
- Military effects: High casualty numbers reduce the ability to fight, require replacements, and affect morale, training, and supplies.
- Political and social impact: Losses at a large scale put pressure on government policy, public opinion, and maybe resource allocation.
- Costs: The wounded need medical care and rehabilitation. Missing soldiers cause uncertainty for families. The cost in money is huge too.
Challenges in verifying the numbers
- Secrecy: Governments often do not publish full or accurate casualty counts.
- Propaganda and disinformation: In war, both sides try to influence what people believe.
- Time lag: Wounded might die later; some deaths are not reported immediately.
- Counting wounded: Some wounded are mild and don’t get recorded. Others have permanent damage.
Summary
Russian casualties in the war in Ukraine are very high. Most estimates from Western intelligence and Ukraine put total losses—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—around 1 million or slightly more since the war began in 2022. Exact numbers of deaths are lower but still very large (tens or hundreds of thousands). Because of the nature of war, these numbers are estimates and will likely change with new information.
FAQs
Q: How many Russian soldiers have been killed?
A: Estimates vary. Some reports say about 120,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since 2022, based on media investigations. The Moscow Times Other sources suggest the death toll is higher but less certain, because many deaths are not publicly confirmed.
Q: Do the casualty numbers include wounded and missing?
A: Yes, many figures include all categories: killed, wounded, missing, or captured. Some only count those killed. It depends on the source.
Q: Why do numbers from Russia differ from numbers from Ukraine or other sources?
A: Because of secrecy, propaganda, reporting delays, different methods, and sometimes intentional under- or over-reporting.
Q: Are independent sources reliable?
A: They try to be reliable. Some use open-source data like obituaries, hospital reports, media, and local records. But they also face limits: not all cases are public, some information is lost or hidden, and there may be errors.
Q: What is the latest estimate for 2025 alone?
A: According to UK intelligence, Russia may have suffered about 236,000 casualties in 2025 (killed + wounded + missing, etc.) so far.
