Over 1.8 Million Soldiers Affected in Ukraine

In nearly four years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, more than 1.8 million military personnel from both nations have been killed, wounded, or gone missing, according to a recent report by the US-based think tank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The report highlights that Russian forces have borne the brunt of the casualties. Of the total 1.8 million military personnel affected, approximately 1.2 million are Russian. Among these, just over 325,000 Russian soldiers have been confirmed killed, while the majority have sustained injuries. Additionally, several thousand Russian troops remain unaccounted for.

CSIS noted that the scale of Russian losses is unprecedented for a major power since the Second World War. No other large military in modern history has experienced such extensive casualties in a single conflict.

Ukraine’s losses, while smaller in comparison, have also been significant. Over the past four years, more than 600,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, wounded, or gone missing. According to CSIS data, between February 2022 and December 2025, between 100,000 and 140,000 Ukrainian troops were killed in action, with the remainder sustaining injuries or being reported missing.

The report further warns that if the war continues, total military casualties for both countries could approach 2 million by spring 2026.

The conflict began on 24 February 2022, when Russian forces launched a military operation in Ukraine. This followed years of tension, during which Moscow pledged to recognise the Crimean Peninsula as Russian territory but failed to prevent Ukrainian efforts to pursue NATO membership. Under the direction of President Vladimir Putin, Russian troops invaded Ukraine—a campaign that remains ongoing more than four years later.

Casualties Summary (2022–2025)

CSIS analysts emphasise that the ongoing conflict continues to take a heavy toll on both nations’ armed forces, with human losses mounting steadily. As international observers monitor the situation, the figures underline the immense human cost of one of the most destructive European conflicts in decades.