Russia-Ukraine war has caused 1.4 million military casualties: study

Russia has suffered around 1 million casualties while Ukraine has had 400,000.

Published: June 4, 2025 8:51am

The war between Russia and Ukraine has caused 1.4 million military casualties, according to a new study.

The study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies released Tuesday found that since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has suffered roughly 1 million casualties while Ukraine has had 400,000 – the largest number of casualties that either country has had since World War II, according to the news outlet First Post.

In addition to death, the term casualty includes injury.

Of the 1 million Russian casualties, roughly 250,000 troops have been killed, while Ukraine has seen around 60-100,000 of its soldiers killed out of 250,000 casualties.

It is difficult to calculate accurate casualty numbers since Russia often under-counts and Ukraine doesn't report them. The study used figures from U.S. and UK government estimates and other sources.

Russia has seized less than 1% of Ukrainian territory since 2024, with its forces in some places progressing just around 165 feet a day, according to the study. The country has also lost a third of its long-range bomber and surveillance fleets, nearly a third of its Black Sea fleet, and some of its top generals.

Co-author of the CSIS study Seth Jones told The New York Times that Russia's campaign is one of the slowest in modern history.

"They have suffered upwards of 1 million casualties. They have taken a tiny amount of territory and they have lost massive amounts of equipment," Jones said. "The Russians would hold the long-term balance of power if President Trump walks away. If the US doesn’t walk, Putin is in serious trouble."

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Just the News Spotlight

Support Just the News