Russian Casualties in Ukraine Exceed One Million
Kyiv military officials have announced that the total casualties of Russian troops in Ukraine have surpassed one million since the conflict’s onset in 2022. This staggering figure includes both fatalities and injuries, reflecting the toll the war has taken on Russia’s military personnel. Recent reports from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S.-based think tank, corroborate these numbers and further detail significant losses in Russian military equipment.
Since the beginning of January 2024, CSIS estimates Russian forces have lost approximately 1,149 armored fighting vehicles, 3,098 infantry fighting vehicles, 300 self-propelled artillery units, and 1,865 tanks. This substantial loss of military assets is indicative of the fierce combat and ongoing challenges Russian troops have faced on the battlefield.
Heavy Losses During Major Offensives
The Russian military has experienced substantial casualties across various fronts, with particularly severe losses reported during significant offensives last year. According to Michael Kofman, a U.S. military analyst, the most pronounced casualties occurred between September and November 2024 when Russian forces attempted advances in eastern Ukraine. Kofman noted that tactics involving repeated assaults with dispersed infantry groups resulted in higher casualty rates relative to the territory gained.
For instance, in August of the previous year, Ukrainian forces reportedly killed around 1,226 Russian soldiers while pushing into the Kursk region, close to Ukraine’s border. Additionally, a Russian soldier highlighted the catastrophic losses his unit faced in the frontline town of Vovchansk, located near the Russian border, where only 12 of the 100 troops in his unit survived after the first night of intense fighting in June 2024.
North Korean Support for Russia
The conflict in Ukraine has seen direct support for Russian military efforts from North Korea. This support has included the dispatch of North Korean troops, who have reportedly assisted operations particularly within the Kursk region. Such cooperation follows a defense agreement signed between Moscow and Pyongyang last year.
Reports indicate that at least 300 North Korean soldiers have died as a result of their involvement, with thousands more sustaining injuries. This level of commitment from North Korea underscores the international dimensions of the conflict and the extent to which Russia is seeking allies in its military campaign.
