Kyiv military officials have revealed that, since the onset of the war in 2022, Russian troop casualties in Ukraine have surpassed 1 million, encompassing both killed and wounded personnel. This alarming statistic has been echoed by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which also noted significant losses in Russian military equipment.
Recent estimates from CSIS indicate that since January 2024, Russia has lost approximately 1,149 armored fighting vehicles, 3,098 infantry fighting vehicles, 300 self-propelled artillery units, and a staggering 1,865 tanks. These figures underscore the scale of the ongoing conflict and the heavy toll it has taken on Russia’s military capabilities.
The casualties have not been evenly distributed but have peaked during significant offensives, particularly between September and November 2024. U.S. military analyst Michael Kofman highlighted that the tactics used during this period involved repeated assaults with dispersed infantry groups, which ultimately led to a higher casualty rate in relation to the territorial gains achieved.
The intensity of the fighting has also been reflected on specific fronts. For instance, in August 2023, approximately 1,226 Russian troops lost their lives as Ukrainian forces advanced into Russia’s Kursk region, a strategic area located near the Ukrainian border. Additionally, reports from June 2024 outlined dire situations for Russian units, such as one soldier revealing that his battalion faced devastation in the town of Vovchansk, where only 12 out of 100 troops survived after just one night of fighting.
The conflict has also seen the involvement of foreign troops, notably North Korean soldiers sent to support Russian military operations, especially in the Kursk area. Reports indicate that at least 300 North Korean troops have been killed, with thousands more injured since their deployment, which followed a defense agreement signed between Moscow and Pyongyang last year.
As the war drags on, the repercussions for both Russian forces and their allies are becoming increasingly pronounced, foreshadowing a prolonged and intensifying conflict.
