Increase in Casualties Slows Russian Military Advance…Economic Burden as Well
![War-torn Donetsk region in Ukraine
[AP Yonhap News. Provided by the 24th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine. Resale and DB prohibited]](https://imgnews.pstatic.net/image/001/2026/01/28/AKR20260128032700009_01_i_P4_20260128092816752.jpg?type=w860)
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Shin-young Lee = A study has revealed that the casualties of military personnel from both Russia and Ukraine have neared 2 million, following the Russian invasion that began in 2022 and has continued for nearly four years.
According to the New York Times (NYT) and AFP on the 27th (local time), the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has compiled these figures based on estimates from the US and UK governments.
The current estimated casualties for the Russian military total 1.2 million, including those killed, injured, and missing.
Among them, about 325,000 are believed to be fatalities.
CSIS analyzed that last year alone, Russian military casualties were about 415,000, averaging 35,000 per month.
The Ukrainian military’s losses are estimated at around 600,000, with 100,000 to 140,000 presumed killed.
CSIS indicated, “The total casualties for both Russian and Ukrainian forces could reach up to 1.8 million and could near 2 million by this spring. In no war since World War II has a great power suffered so many casualties.”
As the casualty figures increase, the Russian army’s advance is noticeably slowing, CSIS noted.
Russia has implemented conscription, deployed prisoners to the front lines, and even received troop reinforcements from North Korea to maintain a larger force compared to Ukraine. However, the loss of tens of thousands of personnel every month has likely forced a slowdown in their advance.
NYT reported that in some regions, Russian forces are advancing only about 50 to 230 feet (approximately 15 to 70 meters) per day.
According to CSIS, Russia has only managed to capture an additional 1.5% of Ukrainian territory since January 2024.
Seth Jones, a defense expert with CSIS who conducted this study, pointed out that the war is also burdening the Russian economy.
While manufacturing has contracted and last year’s economic growth rate slowed to 0.6%, the absence of globally competitive companies capable of boosting long-term productivity is increasing economic pressure.
Jones analyzed, “The poor combat performance in Ukraine and the decline in economic productivity show that Russia is in a serious decline as a major power. Although Russia still possesses nuclear weapons and a large military, it can no longer be considered a great power in military, economic, or technological terms.”