The British Ministry of Defense has revealed that the number of Russian soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine may have reached as high as 250,000, based on new estimates.
According to the report, Russia’s military has sustained nearly 900,000 casualties since the war began in February 2022, encompassing both killed and wounded personnel. Of these, between 200,000 and 250,000 are believed to have died, making this the largest military death toll for Russia since the Second World War.
The report further suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior military officials appear to be willing to accept high casualties, as long as public support for the war remains intact and the losses can be replenished.
It also highlights a significant ethnic and regional disparity within the Russian Armed Forces. Recruitment efforts have reportedly been concentrated in impoverished, ethnic minority regions, with fewer soldiers coming from major urban centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg. In contrast, rural areas, which are home to many ethnic minorities, have borne a disproportionate share of the losses.
This staggering casualty toll underscores the severe human cost of the war, as Russia continues to face mounting challenges both on the battlefield and on the home front.