Between the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and June 2026, Russian forces suffered approximately 1.4 million casualties—including those killed, severely wounded, and missing in action. Of these, at least 450,000 military personnel were killed. These figures are cited in a new study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
According to the center’s analysts, the Russian army lost between 30,000 and 34,000 personnel per month during the first half of 2026. This figure significantly exceeds the recruitment rate for new contract soldiers, which stands at approximately 27,000 per month. Consequently, Russian forces continue to suffer mounting losses, even with the active deployment of penal units, prison inmates, and migrants.
The casualty ratio has also deteriorated significantly. While the ratio favored Ukraine by 2:1 to 3:1 for most of the war, it widened to 8:1 in the first half of 2026. The study’s authors attribute this shift to the Ukrainian military’s widespread use of drones, including those equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities.
The number of Russian military fatalities is already more than four times the total number of U.S. service members killed in all American conflicts since World War II (approximately 100,000). Furthermore, this figure is more than nine times the combined losses suffered by the Soviet Union and Russia in all wars since 1945.
“No major power has suffered losses anywhere near this magnitude in any war since World War II. This leaves Russia with a grim and unprecedented historical record,” the CSIS study authors note.
The study emphasizes that such massive losses will create serious demographic, economic, and social challenges for Russia for years to come. Despite this, the Kremlin continues to escalate the conflict, attempting to offset its losses through sheer numbers of personnel and equipment.