Russian Forces Have Sustained A Million Losses In Ukraine War, UK Says

Russia’s armed forces have sustained approximately one million casualties since Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, according to the UK.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported on Thursday that Russian troops have likely reached this devastating milestone after three years and four months of brutal war.

In a post on X, the intelligence officials said: “Of these, it is likely around 250,000 Russian soldiers are killed or missing (presumed dead), Russia’s largest losses in an active conflict since the Second World War.”

A fifth of the total losses (200,000) are estimated to have occurred just during the last six months of 2025.

“Russia’s permanent combat losses (killed, missing and irrevocably wounded) are likely currently between 400,000 and 500,000 personnel,” the MoD reported.

Troops who are wounded “continue to strain the Russian Military Medical System at all levels”, which in turn causes logistically issues and a shortage of military medical personnel.

However, the MoD noted that this has not deterred the ongoing Russian brutality against Ukraine.

The officials said: “Russia’s senior leadership are almost certainly prepared to tolerate continuously high resultant casualty rates so long as this does not negatively affect public or elite support for the war and those losses can be replaced.”

Putin’s troops are still trying to “stretch Ukrainian forces” by approaching with a high number of soldiers to overwhelm them.

Russia currently controls 18% of Ukrainian territory and has so far refused to agree to any long-term ceasefire deals.

Donald Trump has tried to put pressure on both sides to end the war – even if it means resolving it on Putin’s terms – but Moscow keeps coming up with new conditions for peace.

The US president also gave Putin a two-week deadline to agree to a ceasefire in late May. 

That deadline has now passed – but the White House is yet to respond.