Hundreds of Thousands Dead or Wounded: The Ukraine War Disaster
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, significant attention has been given to Russian casualties, which have surpassed half a million troops. Ukrainian casualties, although less reported, are also considerable, with approximately 30,457 civilian casualties and 31,000 military personnel killed.
Summary: Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, significant attention has been given to Russian casualties, which have surpassed half a million troops. Ukrainian casualties, although less reported, are also considerable, with approximately 30,457 civilian casualties and 31,000 military personnel killed.
-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disputes Russian claims of 300,000 Ukrainian casualties, asserting the losses are far lower but still substantial.
-According to the UN, over 10,582 Ukrainian civilians have been killed.
-A U.S. intelligence report estimated 315,000 Russian troop casualties by December 2023, a figure that likely increased since.
-The high casualty rates highlight the ongoing attrition and call into question the wisdom of continuing the war, prompting suggestions for peace negotiations.
Ukraine War Casualties: Over Half a Million Russian Troops Lost Since Invasion
Significant press coverage has been dedicated to the Russian casualties suffered since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The numbers are staggering, with more than half a million troops lost so far.
Less coverage has been dedicated to Ukrainian casualties, which are also significant. To date, Ukraine has suffered roughly 30,457 civilian casualties (killed and wounded) and 31,000 troop losses (killed). This total is also significant, surpassing American losses during the entirety of the Vietnam War and indicating the tangible price of the resistance.
Disputing the Figures
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian claims of 300,000 Ukrainian casualties are overblown.
“31,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putting and his deceitful circle have been lying about,” Zelenskyy said. “But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us.”
Zelenskyy declined to say how many Ukrainian troops had been wounded or were missing in action. Zelenskyy also said he didn’t know exactly where the civilian death toll stood. “We don’t know how many of our civilians they killed. We don’t,” Zelenskyy said. He believes that “tens of thousands of civilians” have been killed in the occupied territories of Ukraine, but adds that the precise numbers will not be clear until the war ends.
According to The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 10,582 Ukrainian civilians had been killed as of February 2024, with another 19,875 Ukrainian civilians injured. The Office did note that the numbers could be higher.
Staggering Casualty Estimates in Ukraine War
According to estimates from a U.S. intelligence report declassified last December, the Russians had suffered 315,000 troop casualties (killed and wounded). The number has undoubtedly grown in the six months since the report was declassified. And the number is certainly higher than the 6,000 or so casualties that Putin’s government has reported.
“If accurate, the [315,000 casualties] would represent 87% of the roughly 360,000 troops Russia had before the war,” the Associated Press reported.
An independent Russian news outlet, Mediazona, reported that “about 75,000 Russian men died in 2022 and 2023 fighting in the war.” Another report from Mediazona suggested that Russia’s casualty rate has remained consistent, and that Russia is still “losing about 120 men a day.”
The remarkably high casualty rates on both sides call into question the wisdom of continuing the war. In two years of fighting, Russia has done little to win Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine has proved incapable of expelling Russia. The conflict has long since become a slog of attrition, with entrenched positions and dependence on artillery strikes. The ever-rising casualty rates should inspire the parties to sue for peace – or at least inspire the Western powers bankrolling Ukraine’s continued resistance to pressure their proxy into seeking an off-ramp.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.
