Russia lost more soldiers in the first year of the full-scale war against Ukraine than in all wars since World War II combined. This is stated in the material of the American analytical institute - the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
According to CSIS, the average number of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine per month is at least 25 times higher than the number of killed per month in Chechnya and 35 times higher in Afghanistan. On average, Russia loses 5,000 to 5,800 soldiers per month (95 to 185 per month in Chechnya over 15 years).
According to analysts' estimates, from February 2022 to February 2023, 60,000 to 70,000 Russian soldiers were eliminated in Ukraine. These figures include ordinary Russian soldiers from the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian Guards, the FSB and the Federal Security Service (FSO), militants of the L/DPR terrorist organizations, and mercenaries of Wagner's PMK.
In total, according to CSIS, Russia lost 200,000 to 250,000 wounded, killed and missing. The occupying forces also lost about half of their T-72B3 and T-72B3M main battle tanks and about two-thirds of their T-80BV/U tanks.
Analysts note Ukraine's impressive use of military innovations (in particular, drones) against an enemy with a significant advantage in resources. The CSIS report said that Russia's war against Ukraine has turned into a war of attrition, and the West must prepare for a "protracted war and long-term support." According to them, Ukraine now needs advanced systems for offensive operations — air defense systems, long-range artillery, armored vehicles, fighters and ammunition, training and intelligence.
Earlier, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that Russia is not ready to wage a long war against Ukraine, because its resources are limited.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has lost about 149,890 of its soldiers, 3,395 tanks and more in Ukraine.