Russia-Ukraine war casualty estimates

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Fox News on 31 July that Russia had suffered roughly 1.6 million total casualties since the invasion began, including about 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine’s armed forces had lost around 50,000 soldiers. He also noted earlier figures of 55,000 Ukrainian deaths.

Two days later, the independent Russian outlet Mediazona, in partnership with the BBC Russian service, released a verified list of 236,066 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, adding 2,867 new names since its mid‑July update. The list breaks down the dead by volunteers, recruited prisoners, mobilised troops and officers, and provides exact dates for most cases. Analysts say the true number is likely higher, and Ukrainian officials continue to cite broader loss estimates that exceed 1.4 million Russian personnel killed, wounded, missing or captured.

In August 2026, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces suffered 42,860 personnel losses in July 2024, the highest monthly total since the conflict began. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the figure and said average monthly Russian casualties this year are about 34,000. The report placed total Russian losses above 1.45 million, with roughly 131,000 killed and 93,000 wounded, figures echoed by President Zelensky. He warned that the heavy toll could push President Putin toward an expanded mobilization.