As the war in Ukraine marks its third year, independent estimates indicate that Russia has suffered staggering military losses. A recent report by Russian independent media outlets Meduza and Mediazona estimates that at least 165,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began.
Rising Casualties Each Year
Using open-source data and statistical analysis, the report highlights a steady increase in Russian fatalities.
In 2022, approximately 20,000 Russian soldiers were killed.
In 2023, the number more than doubled to 47,000–53,000.
In 2024, Russian losses reportedly surged to nearly 100,000.
These figures do not include foreign fighters or forcibly conscripted recruits from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, as reported by Digi24.
Total Russian Losses Significantly Higher
While the number of confirmed deaths is alarming, total Russian casualties—including those wounded, missing, and captured—are believed to be far higher.
On February 24, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that 868,230 Russian soldiers had been killed, injured, or taken prisoner. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on February 15 that Moscow had lost approximately 250,000 troops, with 20,000 deaths in the battle for Kursk alone.
Additionally, more than 610,000 Russian soldiers have reportedly been wounded since the war began.
Impact on Russian Society
The rising death toll has fueled a surge in missing persons cases across Russia. Courts handled 20,000 missing soldier claims in 2024, more than 2.5 times the pre-war annual average, according to Mediazona.
As the conflict drags on, these growing numbers highlight the war’s immense cost—not just on the battlefield, but on Russian society itself.
