The war in Ukraine has caused nearly two million military casualties in Russia and Ukraine, including dead, wounded, and missing soldiers, according to a study released Tuesday by the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
CSIS reported that Russian forces suffered the heaviest losses, with 325,000 dead out of an estimated 1.2 million total casualties since Moscow invaded Ukraine almost four years ago. “No major power has suffered such high numbers of deaths and casualties in any war since World War II,” CSIS said, noting that Russian forces have advanced at a “remarkably slow” pace on the battlefield.
Ukrainian forces have endured significant losses as well. CSIS estimated 600,000 Ukrainian casualties, including 100,000 to 140,000 dead, from February 2022 to December 2025. The think tank projects that total military casualties in Russia and Ukraine could reach two million by spring 2026.
Civilians have also paid a heavy toll. The UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine reported that 2025 was the deadliest year since the Russian invasion, with over 2,500 civilian deaths. Since February 24, 2022, the UN has recorded nearly 15,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths and 40,600 injuries. Actual numbers are likely higher due to limited access in conflict zones, particularly during the early months of the invasion.
In February 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country lost nearly 46,000 soldiers since 2022, a figure analysts considered likely underestimated. Tens of thousands more are missing or held as prisoners by Russian forces.
The Russian service of the BBC and Mediazona, relying on public records and social media, counted 163,000 Russian military deaths over four years but cautioned that the real toll is probably much higher.
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