Key facts
- Ukraine's General Staff reported Russian troop losses at 1,500,870 on September 9.
- The cumulative Russian personnel losses in Ukraine now exceed the combined toll from Soviet and Russian conflicts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
- Russian forces have suffered approximately 30,000 casualties per month since the start of 2026.
- In July, Russian casualties reached a record 42,860, with August also exceeding 40,000.
- Ukrainian soldiers believe current Russian losses are not yet high enough to force a withdrawal from objectives.
- Russia is reportedly considering a new mobilization wave to draft an additional 600,000 people in 2026-2027.
Ukraine's General Staff announced on September 9 that Russian forces have suffered over 1.5 million casualties since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. This figure represents a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict.
According to the General Staff, it took approximately two years and three months for Russian forces to reach their first 500,000 casualties. The subsequent 1 million casualties have been incurred in roughly the past 15 months, a period marked by increasing use of technology and drones on the battlefield.
The General Staff stated that Russia's total personnel losses in Ukraine surpass the combined casualties of Russian and Soviet forces in all conflicts during the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st century. The toll is also significantly higher than losses during the Soviet-Afghan War and the Chechen Wars.
Since the beginning of 2026, Russian forces have reportedly sustained around 30,000 casualties per month. In July, this figure surged to a record 42,860, with August also seeing over 40,000 casualties, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
Despite the mounting losses, Ukrainian soldiers do not anticipate that these figures will compel the Russian military to abandon its objectives. They note that Russia's pool of available manpower remains substantial, even without an official new mobilization. Ukrainian soldiers describe Russian tactics as head-on infantry assaults, where the goal is to reach positions even with minimal survivors.
Ukrainian service members and activists acknowledge the high Russian casualty count but express that it is not yet sufficient to cripple the Russian army. They emphasize that while technology helps Ukraine inflict greater losses, manpower remains the most critical military resource. Some believe that Russia's willingness to accept heavy losses, coupled with financial incentives for contract soldiers and a societal acceptance of high casualties, allows them to maintain their current pace.
However, the continuous accumulation of losses is seen as gradually affecting personnel quality, training levels, and the ability to form effective combat units. The focus on technological advancements by Ukraine is also cited as a factor in increasing Russian casualties, with casualty tracking systems verifying losses.