Russia’s 1.2 million casualty toll: The human price of minimal territorial gains
By the end of the fourth year of the war in Ukraine, Russian military casualties had reached a staggering 1.198 million personnel. According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 2025 alone saw 425,000 Russian troops killed or wounded.
Of the total losses since the invasion began, approximately 315,000 soldiers have been killed. Analysts note that no major global power has suffered such extensive losses in any conflict since World War II.
The scale of the attrition
President Volodimir Zelensky highlighted that in December 2025 alone, Russia lost 35,000 soldiers. This monthly figure is more than double the total Soviet fatalities recorded during the decade-long war in Afghanistan.
While the Kremlin remains reserved regarding official death tolls, Moscow is employing increasingly aggressive recruitment tactics. To sustain its forces, the government offers lucrative contracts often exceeding €46,000, a sum vastly higher than average regional salaries.
Recruitment and incentives
The recruitment strategy targets vulnerable groups with specific promises. Incarcerated individuals are offered freedom, while migrants are promised expedited Russian citizenship in exchange for frontline service.
Reports from Euronews suggest that many recruits face "phantom terms," where initial one-year contracts are unilaterally converted into indefinite service. This occurs as Russia avoids a formal general mobilization, which remains highly unpopular domestically.
Foreign involvement and economic strain
The conflict has expanded to include foreign forces, notably thousands of North Korean troops deployed to the Kursk region. Additionally, an increasing number of citizens from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have reported being coerced into service under the guise of civilian employment.
These efforts are becoming "exceptionally costly," according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russia’s economy is showing signs of fatigue, with inflation surpassing 10% last year and military spending straining national reserves.
Minimal gains at maximum cost
Despite the massive human toll, Russian territorial expansion remains marginal. Over the last two years, Moscow’s forces seized only 8,400 square kilometers—representing just 0.6% of Ukrainian territory in 2024 and 0.8% in 2025.
The CSIS estimates that Ukrainian Armed Forces have suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties, including 140,000 killed. Combined total losses for both sides are projected to reach the 2 million mark by spring 2026.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
