The Kremlin refutes a claim that Russia has endured the highest number of casualties among major powers since World War II in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. A recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., indicated that Russia has faced 1.2 million casualties, including around 325,000 troop fatalities, from February 2022 to December 2025. The report also suggested that the total casualties from both sides could reach millions by spring, highlighting the significant toll Russia is paying for limited gains.
Despite assertions of progress on the battlefield, the data portrays Russia as suffering substantial losses without substantial advancements, signaling a decline in its status as a major power. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report, emphasizing that only Russia’s Ministry of Defence could provide accurate information on military losses.
Both Moscow and Kyiv lack transparency in reporting military casualties, with each side attempting to inflate the other’s losses. The Russian ministry’s latest disclosure in September 2022 reported nearly 6,000 soldier deaths, with no updates since then. The Ukrainian government has not commented on the report, which estimated Ukraine’s military casualties at 500,000 to 600,000, including up to 140,000 fatalities.
In a February 2025 interview with NBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died since the conflict’s onset. The combined casualties of Russian and Ukrainian forces are projected to approach 1.8 million at the current rate, with the war entering its fourth year since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The CSIS report compiled its figures from various sources, including independent Russian news outlets, British government estimates, and interviews with officials. Reports on military losses have been stifled in Russian media, with independent efforts revealing over 160,000 troops killed. Additionally, North Korean troops have been deployed to Ukraine as part of a strategic alliance with Russia, with an estimated 600 casualties by April 2025.
The CSIS report highlighted that Russian forces have been advancing slowly since taking the initiative in 2024, with minimal progress despite their numerical superiority. The conflict has evolved into a protracted war of attrition, with President Putin showing no urgency to seek a resolution despite challenges on the front line.
Trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled to resume in Abu Dhabi on February 1 to address the conflict. Putin’s claims of 700,000 Russian troops in Ukraine remain unverified, while Ukraine reported two deaths and multiple injuries in recent attacks near Kyiv. The conflict continues to escalate, with both sides engaging in aerial offensives and drone strikes.