New Delhi: A recent strategic assessment suggests that Russia has suffered one of its heaviest military losses in modern history during the war in Ukraine.
Assessing wartime casualties remains difficult and imprecise, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report. Governments and parties to conflict often adjust figures for political reasons. As a result, all estimates carry a degree of uncertainty, the critical report noted.
According to the report, Russian forces recorded nearly 1.2 million battlefield casualties between February 2022 and December 2025. The count includes soldiers killed, wounded, or reported missing.
The report highlights that 2025 alone saw around 415,000 Russian casualties. This translates to an average of nearly 35,000 casualties per month during the year.
Fatality estimates point to a severe toll. The report places Russian battlefield deaths between 275,000 and 325,000 over the same period.
The CISIS described the conflict as a grinding war marked by slow advances and repeated offensives. It said high casualty rates reflect sustained fighting across multiple fronts.
Ukrainian forces have also suffered significant losses, though estimates vary widely. Experts stress that reliable verification remains challenging, while the conflict continues.
Beyond military figures, the prolonged war has caused widespread civilian suffering and infrastructure damage. Observers warn that losses may rise further without meaningful diplomatic progress.
The report concluded that the scale and duration of the war place it among the most destructive conflicts in Europe since World War II.
