Russia's losses in the war in Ukraine are 100 times greater than those of the USSR in Afghanistan
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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that total combat losses for Russian personnel since the start of the full-scale invasion have exceeded 1,500,000 killed and wounded. This figure represents the largest single-war loss suffered by the Russian army since World War II and surpasses the combined casualties of Soviet and Russian forces across all conflicts in the second half of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Specifically, the losses incurred during the war in Ukraine are stated to be 100 times greater than those suffered by the USSR over its entire ten-year involvement in Afghanistan.
Independent analysis from The New York Times, citing a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, corroborates these heavy figures, estimating that over 2 million service members from both nations have been killed or wounded in four years of fighting. According to this data, approximately 1.4 million Russian military personnel have been casualties since February 2022, with 450,000 confirmed deaths alone. This death toll is noted as being four times higher than the total American losses across all U.S. wars combined since World War II, while Ukrainian forces are estimated to have suffered between 525,000 and 625,000 casualties, including roughly 125,000 to 150,000 fatalities.
The sheer scale of Russian human cost is further illustrated by comparing these numbers to the populations of Russia's own constituent regions. The total number of Russian casualties effectively equals the entire population of republics such as Mordovia, Khakassia, and Kalmykia, or collectively represents the loss of 19 Nenets Autonomous Okrugs and 1.5 Ingushetiya. This comparison highlights that Russia has lost more combatants in Ukraine than the total population of several of its federal subjects, a statistic that underscores the unprecedented magnitude of the conflict's impact on Russian society.
Despite these alarming figures, officials caution that exact casualty counts remain difficult to determine due to Moscow's alleged routine undercounting of its dead and injured, as well as Ukraine's lack of official disclosure regarding its own losses. The available data relies heavily on estimates from American and British government sources rather than direct admissions from the warring parties. Nevertheless, the consensus among analysts is clear: Russia has suffered a catastrophic loss of life in Ukraine that dwarfs historical precedents, effectively sacrificing populations equivalent to entire Russian republics in a single war.
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Today, the total combat losses of enemy
personnel since the beginning of the
Russian Federation's large-scale
invasion of Ukraine exceeded 1,500,000
occupiers killed and wounded. The
General Staff of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine reports. It is also noted that
these are the largest losses suffered by
the Russian army in a single war since
World War II. This figure exceeds the
combined losses of the Soviet and
Russian armies in all wars and armed
conflicts of the second half of the 20th
and early 21st centuries combined. The
Telegram post stated. The General Staff
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
emphasizes that Russia's losses in the
war with Ukraine are 100 times greater
than the USSR's losses in Afghanistan
over the 10 years from the start of the
full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That is,
from February 24th, 2022, to September
9th, 2026.
The occupiers' losses amount to
approximately 1,500,870
people. This is 125 times greater than
the officially recognized losses of the
aggressor in the first and second
Chechen wars. Earlier, The New York
Times, citing a study by the Center for
Strategic and International Studies,
wrote that, "According to a new study,
over 2 million Russian and Ukrainian
service members have been killed or
wounded in the 4 years of Russia's war
against Ukraine. The study notes that
Russia has suffered heavy losses since
February 2022, when Russia invaded
Ukraine, 1.4 million military personnel
have been killed or wounded. Of these,
450,000 have died, which is [music] four
times more than the US losses in all
wars combined since World War II.
Ukrainian forces are said to have
suffered between 525,000
and 625,000
casualties, including between 125,000
and 150,000 dead. Officials cautioned
that casualty figures have been
difficult to estimate throughout the war
because Moscow is believed to routinely
undercount its war dead and injured, and
Ukraine does not disclose its official
figures. The study relied on casualty
figures from American and British
government estimates, among other
sources. Thus, Russia has lost more
combatants in Ukraine than the entire
population of some of the Federation's
constituent republics. For example,
according to Wikipedia, the total
population of the Republic of Mordovia
as of January 1st, 2024, [music]
was 765,891
people. In other words, Russia has
effectively lost the equivalent of
Mordovia, or collectively, republics
such as Khakassia and Kalmykia in
Ukraine. In total, Russia has 26
districts, regions, and republics with
populations of fewer than 800,000
people. For example, Russia lost the
equivalent of 19 Nenets Autonomous
Okrugs or 1.5 Ingushetia in Ukraine.
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