Russia lost more troops in Ukraine than in all conflicts since WWII
Destroyed Russian equipment at an exhibition in the center of Kyiv (Photo:REUTERS/Nacho Doce)
Russia has lost more soldiers in the first year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine than it did in all wars since WWII, combined, U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report on Feb. 27.
According to CSIS, the average number of Russian soldiers killed per month in Ukraine is at least 25 times higher than the number killed per month in Chechnya and 35 times higher than in Afghanistan. On average, Russia loses from 5,000 to 5,800 soldiers per month (in Chechnya, Russia was losing 95 to 185 troops per month, over 15 years).
According to the analysts, 60,000-70,000 Russian military personnel were eliminated in Ukraine between February 2022 and February 2023. These figures include ordinary Russian soldiers from the Russian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the FSB (State Security Service), militants of the so-called “people’s republics” in Donbas, and mercenaries from Wagner PMC.
In total, according to CSIS, Russia lost from 200,000 to 250,000 people wounded, killed and missing in action. The invading forces also lost about half of their T-72B3 and T-72B3M main battle tanks and about two-thirds of their T-80BV/U tanks.
Analysts note Ukraine's impressive use of military innovations (specifically drones) against an enemy with a significant advantage in resources. The CSIS report says that Russia's war against Ukraine has turned into a war of attrition, and the West must prepare for a "protracted war and long-term support." In their opinion, Ukraine now needs advanced systems for offensive operations – air defense systems, long-range artillery, armored vehicles, fighter jets, and ammunition, on top of training and intelligence.
On Feb. 27, Ukrainian Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Russia is not ready to wage a long war, as its resources are limited.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has lost about 149,890 troops and 3,395 tanks in Ukraine.
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