Staggering Human Cost: 2 Years of War in Ukraine Reveals Shocking Casualty Figures
On the eve of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the devastating human cost of two years of warfare is revealed. According to Ukraine’s military, Russia has sustained over 407,000 casualties since February 2022, with 1,160 reported in the previous 24 hours. However, it is difficult to ascertain the true casualty counts on both sides due to the fog of war. Kurt Volker, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations, states, “Nobody really knows accurate numbers.” Despite this uncertainty, the figures provide insight into the toll of the conflict.
The combined total of fighters killed or wounded on both sides was estimated to be around 500,000 in August 2023 by U.S. officials. However, this number is expected to be significantly higher now. In January 2024, Britain’s armed forces minister, James Heappey, stated that Russia had sustained approximately 350,000 casualties in Ukraine. Additionally, tens of thousands of mercenaries from the Wagner Group were killed and injured during operations in Bakhmut in May 2023.
Ukraine’s casualty figures are not transparent. In August 2023, U.S. officials revealed that around 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, with up to 120,000 wounded. Russia occasionally provides statistics, but their accuracy is questionable. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in June 2023 that “Russia suffers 10 times fewer losses than Ukraine.” Later that year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Ukraine had sustained 383,000 casualties since February 2022. However, these numbers are inflated.
The loss of experienced personnel has been significant for both militaries. Ukraine is struggling to rotate personnel and train new recruits while also evacuating injured fighters. Russia has a larger reserve of troops and a bigger population to recruit from, but this does not guarantee quality. The U.K. Defense Ministry has stated that Russia’s forces have degraded and transitioned to a lower quality, high quantity mass army.
The battles for key settlements have resulted in increased casualties and losses. The strategic Donetsk cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka have been particularly devastating. Russia suffered over 47,000 troops lost during the four-month battle for Avdiivka, with around 17,000 soldiers killed. This death toll surpasses the Soviet death toll during the nine-year war in Afghanistan. The loss of equipment has also been significant, with Russia losing tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and jets.
The wider equipment losses for both sides are staggering. According to Ukrainian military figures, Russia has lost over 6,500 tanks, nearly 12,400 armored vehicles, and over 9,800 artillery systems. Russia claims that Ukraine has lost over 15,000 tanks and armored vehicles, as well as more than 8,100 artillery systems. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reports that Russia has lost over 1,100 tanks and 2,000 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles in the past year alone.
Despite these losses, Russia has been able to replenish its military through mothballed replacements and increased defense production. Ukraine, on the other hand, relies on Western aid and lacks the capacity to regenerate its losses. As the conflict enters its third year, Ukraine is anxiously awaiting promised Western military aid to sustain its war effort.
With no end to the conflict in sight, casualties and losses will continue to mount on both sides. The toll of this devastating war is a painful reminder of the human cost of armed conflict.