A recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) predicts that Russia’s casualties in its ongoing war with Ukraine will surpass 1 million this summer, underlining the severe human cost of President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign. Approximately 250,000 Russian soldiers have died, while Ukraine has reported around 400,000 casualties, with 60,000 to 100,000 of those deaths. CSIS characterized reaching over 1 million casualties as a “stunning and grizzly milestone,” illustrating Putin’s apparent neglect of his troops.
Historically, this figure is alarming, representing five times the combined death toll of all Russian and Soviet conflicts since World War II. The casualty estimates align with previous evaluations suggesting nearly 1,000 Russian troops are killed or injured daily. The report focuses on the period following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, although tensions had simmered since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported pro-Russian separatists.
Putin has attempted to justify the invasion by claiming Ukraine is not a genuine independent country and citing NATO’s expansion as a threat to Russian security. However, his initial offensive towards Kyiv was quickly thwarted by Ukraine’s defenses, forcing Russia into a strategy of attritional warfare that relies on overwhelming force, often described as “meat grinder” tactics. This report highlights the dire human impact of the conflict and raises questions about the sustainability of Russia’s military approach as losses mount.
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