Russia’s war in Ukraine has cost the country at least $200 billion and resulted in 700,000 casualties since the invasion began in February 2022. These figures were shared by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a conference in California on December 7.
Austin addressed the scale of Russian losses, saying that Moscow has lost more soldiers in the first year of the conflict than in all of its post-World War II conflicts combined.
“Russia has paid a staggering price for [President Vladimir] Putin's folly. It has been losing at least 1,000 troops daily in recent months,” Austin said, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.
The Ukrainian military provided similar figures, estimating over 750,000 Russian casualties as of December 9. In contrast, Ukraine reported 43,000 soldiers killed and 370,000 wounded since the start of the conflict.
“Russian losses in just the first year of Putin's war of choice appear to exceed all of Moscow's post-World War II conflicts—combined,” Austin emphasized.
November reportedly saw record-high Russian casualties, coinciding with Ukraine's accelerating advances in the eastern regions.
Concerns Over Aid
The Pentagon chief also warned against a shift toward isolationism in U.S. foreign policy, which many experts fear could take hold if Donald Trump assumes office in January 2025.
“The foundation of our foreign policy is our alliances and partnerships with democracies around the world. Our allies and partners are significant force multipliers,” Austin said.
U.S. aid to Ukraine remains uncertain as Trump, during his campaign, vowed to end the war within 24 hours if reelected. He suggested that cutting support for Ukraine could pressure the country into negotiating and potentially ceding territory for peace.
In an interview aired on NBC on December 8, Trump hinted at the possibility of reducing U.S. assistance to Ukraine. "Possibly, sure," he said when asked about the prospect.
Trump also claimed on social media after a meeting with Zelensky in France that Russia has suffered 600,000 casualties, while Ukraine has endured 400,000 wounded and injured soldiers.
