Study: Russian and Ukrainian troop casualties nearing 2 million after nearly four years

A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies says the number of Russian and Ukrainian troops killed, wounded or missing during nearly four years of fighting is on track to reach two million by this spring. The report, to be published on Tuesday, estimated nearly 1.2 million Russian troops and close to 600,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed, wounded or were missing, putting the combined figure at almost 1.8 million.

The study relied on American and British government estimates and other sources, noting that Russia is believed to routinely undercount its dead and injured and that Ukraine does not disclose official figures. The center put Russian troop deaths at close to 325,000 since the invasion began in February 2022 and estimated 100,000 to 140,000 Ukrainian troop deaths.

It said there were roughly 415,000 Russian deaths and injuries in 2025 alone, with an average of nearly 35,000 per month, and that Russians outnumber Ukrainians on the battlefield almost three to one. The report also described shifting tactics because of drones, slow Russian territorial gains — about 1.5 percent seized since January 2024 and roughly 20 percent of Ukraine occupied overall — and economic strains on Russia, including slowing growth to 0.6 percent in 2025.

The latest accounting followed talks among Russian, Ukrainian and American officials that officials described as ending on a rare positive note.

Key Topics

World, Csis, Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky