By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicates that Russian forces have likely sustained significantly higher casualties than Ukraine since the full-scale war began in February 2022. CSIS estimates approximately 1.2 million Russian casualties, including 325,000 fatalities, far exceeding losses of any major power in any war since World War II. While Ukrainian forces have also suffered substantial losses, estimated between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties, including 100,000 to 140,000 fatalities, the Russian losses are roughly 2 to 2.5 times higher. The report suggests that combined casualties for both sides could reach 2 million by the spring of 2026.
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CSIS: Russia has lost 1.2 million soldiers, twice as many as Ukraine. This is a staggering figure, isn’t it? It’s hard to even wrap your head around such a massive loss of life. Considering the scale, it’s a deeply saddening statistic in the modern world, representing the lives of 1.8 million individuals, each with their own families and histories, now gone because of the power-hungry madness of a select few. The sheer weight of that number, the countless shattered families, is something that truly resonates. The scope of human suffering is a profound tragedy fueled by pure aggression.
That 1.2 million figure on the Russian side likely includes not just those killed in action, but also the injured, those captured, and perhaps even those who deserted. The reality is, it’s an absolute waste of life. And it’s important to remember that this isn’t just about numbers; these are real people, their lives snuffed out. To think of a society that treats its own citizens as disposable assets is almost incomprehensible.
Of course, the Ukrainian side also bears a heavy burden. They’ve lost an estimated 600,000 soldiers. They had to rely on soldiers and regular enlisted citizens like teachers, bakers, scholars, and ordinary people, along with some help from foreign legions joining the fight. And let’s be honest, those numbers are likely higher than either side is admitting. Without significant external military intervention, it’s hard to imagine how Ukraine could sustain these losses. The situation on both sides is simply horrific.
It’s tempting to try and put this into perspective, and comparisons to World War II feel almost inadequate, but the losses are significant, comparable to those of the US military in its entire history. The fact that Russia has suffered these losses in just two and a half years compared to the American experience, which played out across 244 years, is a stark reminder that propaganda isn’t exclusive to the “other side.” This war is costing the Russians far more than they would like. For Ukraine, it spells doom, given their limited manpower.
The Russian approach, historically, has been to throw bodies at the problem until it disappears. We’re talking about a strategy that seems to prioritize quantity over quality. It’s almost as if they don’t care about the true cost of the war, and are treating their soldiers as expendable. This conflict needs to end. The situation is unsustainable. It’s as though Putin has gone all-in and strategically, he has already lost.
The imbalance between the sides is something to consider. The sheer scale of Russian losses—1.2 million—is a huge blow, especially considering this is Putin’s war, his initiative. It’s interesting to consider that the actual number of trained soldiers with significant service time is probably just a fraction of the total loss. The remaining numbers likely represent cannon fodder, barely trained soldiers sent in to test the waters. Does Russia even care about these percentages? Their military doctrine may well prioritize a willingness to accept high casualties.
Many speculate on the origin and composition of the Russian forces deployed, some of them being the Buryats and other Siberian ethnicities. The Russians have also brought in convicts and whoever else they could add to the ranks from elsewhere. Then consider that Putin seems willing to use any means to achieve his goals. This situation has the appearance of a genocide being conducted at high speed. The long-term implications for Russian society will be immense. The loss of 1.2 million working-age people, and the flight of hundreds of thousands more who left to avoid military service, will have repercussions for generations.
There’s also the question of the ratio of losses. Some sources suggest a 27:1 ratio of Russian to Ukrainian casualties in some parts of the line, influenced by drone usage. If this is accurate, it underscores the intensity of the fighting and the effectiveness of Ukrainian defensive tactics. The problem is that Putin doesn’t care. He has plenty of manpower to draw on. He will show his people and the world that everything is okay, even though that’s just a lie and propaganda. He is more afraid of his own people than anything else.
The losses on the Ukrainian side are also very significant. The Ukrainians need a ratio of around 5:1 just to stay in the game. What will this loss of life do to Russia? The impact on their economy and society will be profound. The fact is, the war has no winners. Just an abhorrent waste of life. It’s important to remember that the death toll is likely higher than either side is admitting. The destruction, the suffering, the loss of human potential is extremely alarming.
The very scale of the numbers makes one wonder about their accuracy. The numbers are so unrealistic. If you compare the numbers to previous Soviet wars, the losses in Ukraine are staggering. It is as if Putin is betting everything and has already lost. Furthermore, the Russians can always get more Africans, Koreans, and Chinese to fight for them. It will blow back for generations. China will at one point eat up eastern Russia.