Russia Faces 900,000 Military Casualties in Ukraine War

The UK's Defense Ministry reports that approximately 900,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the ongoing war in Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022, with estimates suggesting that 200,000 to 250,000 of these are fatalities, marking Russia's most significant losses since World War II. This information aligns with Ukrainian assessments, which also indicate similar casualty figures. Recent updates reveal that Russian casualties continue to mount, with reports of over 1,300 soldiers lost in a single day and more than 100,000 losses recorded in the early months of 2025. Analysts suggest that Russian leadership, including President Putin, appears willing to accept high casualty rates as long as public and elite support for the war remains intact. Furthermore, there are indications that recruitment efforts disproportionately target ethnic minorities from poorer regions, reflecting a troubling valuation of lives based on socioeconomic status. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces face challenges in replenishing their ranks as the conflict extends past its third year.