The UK Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia has suffered approximately 900,000 casualties in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, including 200,000-250,000 deaths, marking Russia’s greatest losses since World War II. Despite these substantial losses, the Kremlin reportedly prioritizes its war aims over soldier lives, accepting high casualty rates. Recruitment disproportionately targets impoverished ethnic minorities in Russia, highlighting a disparity in the value placed on the lives of different citizen groups.
Read More
In Kursk Oblast, Russia, the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade decisively repelled an assault by the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, utilizing mines and drone strikes to inflict heavy casualties. This victory, following earlier successes against Russian and North Korean forces, expands the Ukrainian salient in the region, a strategically important area. The salient’s capture serves as a bargaining chip in potential negotiations with Russia, although these are complicated by President Trump’s demands for Ukrainian resources in exchange for continued U.S. aid. The 47th Brigade’s continued success buys time for President Zelenskyy to navigate these complex diplomatic and political challenges.
Read More
Sergey Efremov, deputy governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai, was killed by a landmine while returning to Russian lines in Kursk Oblast, marking the highest-ranking Russian official death in the Ukraine conflict. His death highlights the discrepancy between the Kremlin’s calls for patriotic sacrifice and the reality of officials largely avoiding combat. A trained soldier and founder of the volunteer unit Tigers, Efremov actively participated in fighting despite his political role. His death, confirmed by Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, underscores the significant losses Russia is suffering and the Kremlin’s attempts to portray fallen officials as heroic figures.
Read More
The death of a high-ranking Russian official in a landmine explosion in Ukraine marks a significant event in the ongoing conflict. This individual, a vice regional governor from Primorsky Krai in the Russian Far East, a region bordering North Korea and China, chose to participate in the war as a volunteer. His death in Kursk highlights the significant human cost of the conflict, even impacting those in positions of power.
The governor of Primorsky Krai publicly mourned the loss, portraying the deceased as a hero and promising retribution. This emotional response underscores the gravity of the situation for Russia and the potential for escalating tensions.… Continue reading
Russia’s war in Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of at least 6,083 elite soldiers, representing a significant loss of highly trained personnel. These casualties, spanning various elite units including Airborne Forces and GRU special forces, highlight the substantial human cost of the conflict. While initially relying heavily on these elite units, Russia has increasingly depended on mobilized personnel and convicts, indicating significant depletion of its trained military forces. The actual number of Russian casualties is likely considerably higher than open-source data suggests, potentially reaching as high as 196,000.
Read More
A collaborative investigation by the BBC Russian Service, Mediazona, and volunteers estimates that up to 220,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since 2022, with at least 88,000 names verified. This figure, while lower than Ukrainian estimates of over 800,000 total casualties, still suggests a significant manpower strain on Russia. The analysis, compiled from open-source data, highlights 2024 as the deadliest year and details losses across various elite military units. The discrepancy in casualty figures underscores the difficulty in accurately assessing the war’s impact on Russia’s military capabilities.
Read More
Intense fighting near Makhnivka in the Kursk region resulted in the elimination of a Russian battalion comprised of Russian paratroopers and up to an entire battalion of North Korean soldiers, according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Ukrainian forces, specifically the Special Operations Forces and the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade, are credited with inflicting these heavy casualties. These losses follow earlier reports of over 3,000 North Korean casualties in the region. Despite ongoing intense fighting across the front, Ukrainian forces are successfully repelling Russian assaults and maintaining their positions. This engagement highlights the significant human cost of the conflict and the continued North Korean support for Russia’s war effort.
Read More
Since Ukraine’s August 6th incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, over 38,000 Russian troops and 1,000 pieces of equipment have been lost, along with over 700 captured soldiers. Ukraine initially seized approximately 1,300 square kilometers, though intense fighting has reduced this control. The conflict also involves approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, with over 3,000 reported killed or wounded, highlighting the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and modern warfare. Ukraine intends to leverage the occupied territory in future negotiations.
Read More
In 2024, Russia suffered devastating losses in Ukraine, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reporting 421,000 troops killed or wounded—the highest yearly toll since the invasion began. This contributed to a total of approximately 785,000 Russian casualties since February 2022. Ukraine’s successes included establishing a pioneering Unmanned Systems Forces and leveraging long-range strikes, significantly increasing the effectiveness of its military actions. To further enhance combat readiness, Ukraine extended basic military training for mobilized personnel to two months.
Read More
A joint investigation by BBC Russia and Mediazona has identified 84,761 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, a figure likely far lower than the actual number. This count, compiled from publicly available sources, shows over 20,000 confirmed deaths in the past year alone, potentially making 2024 the deadliest yet. These findings contrast with Western estimates exceeding 750,000 Russian military losses, including Ukrainian figures of 772,280 troops lost since the invasion’s start. Moscow’s refusal to release casualty figures is highlighted by a recent admission of 48,000 requests to identify missing soldiers.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood