In 2024 alone, Russia suffered over 150,000 military personnel killed, significantly exceeding losses from 2022 and 2023. Total Russian losses for 2024 surpassed 434,000, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. This represents a dramatic increase in casualties compared to previous years of the conflict. Syrskyi emphasized that Russian losses vastly outnumber those of Ukraine.
During a Duma address, Anna Tsivileva, a Russian Deputy Minister of Defense and relative of Vladimir Putin, inadvertently disclosed that 48,000 DNA requests had been received for missing soldiers. This revelation, deemed classified information by Duma member Andrey Kartapolov, directly contradicted Russia’s policy of concealing military casualty numbers. The broadcast was subsequently removed, though clips circulated online. This incident comes amidst reported high Russian military losses and a recent territorial gain in Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing conflict’s complexities.
Ukraine claims over 735,000 Russian casualties since February 2022, a figure straining Russia’s military medical system. This high casualty count, including approximately 500,000 wounded, has reportedly caused a shortage of medical personnel and logistical problems. The UK Ministry of Defence highlights that slow evacuation of wounded soldiers, due to drone strikes and lack of armored vehicles, exacerbates the issue, leading to increased mortality. These high casualties, exceeding Russia’s monthly recruitment capacity, are placing significant pressure on Russia’s military capabilities.
John Q. Hosedrinker