Ukraine Updates: Russian Military Losses Pass 780,000 in Ongoing Conflict
As the war in Ukraine enters its 1039th day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published updated figures on Russian military losses. The latest data, released on December 28, 2024, reflects casualties sustained over the preceding day, starting from February 24, 2022, the beginning of the conflict.
According to the Ukrainian military’s assessment, Russian forces have incurred significant losses across various categories. The figures show:
- Personnel losses: 784,200 (+1,690)
- Aircraft destroyed: 369 (+0)
- Helicopters lost: 329 (+0)
- Tanks destroyed: 9,651 (+7)
- Armored vehicles/BMPs lost: 19,970 (+19)
- Artillery systems destroyed: 21,408 (+29)
- Air defense systems lost: 1,032 (+0)
- MLRS systems destroyed: 1,256 (+0)
- Cruise missiles fired: 3,003 (+0)
- Motor vehicles, including fuel trucks, lost: 32,328 (+66)
- Operational-tactical UAVs lost: 21,013 (+14)
- Warships/cutters lost: 28 (+0)
- Submarines lost: 1 (+0)
- Special equipment lost: 3,668 (+0)
Notably, the Ukrainian General Staff’s reports do not include data on Russian aircraft and naval vessels destroyed or damaged as a result of sabotage operations outside Ukraine.
Russian authorities have repeatedly disputed these figures, claiming that Ukrainian sources disseminate false information about Russian troop casualties.
Meanwhile, confirmed losses of Russian and pro-Russian military formations in Ukraine, as documented by independent outlets "Meduza" and BBC, total 84,800 fatalities (by name) or approximately 120,000 (through inheritance cases). According to an assessment by The Wall Street Journal (as of September 2024), Russian casualties may have reached around 200,000 killed and 400,000 injured, with Ukrainian losses estimated at approximately 80,000 killed and 400,000 injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on December 8, 2024, that since the start of the Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, around 43,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed, with Russian casualties at 198,000 killed and over 550,000 wounded.
The independent resource UA Losses, which tracks Ukrainian casualties, including civilian deaths, reports that around 62,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed since the beginning of the conflict.
According to UN figures, approximately 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 540 minors, have been killed since February 24, 2022, with over 20,000 injured. However, the UN notes that these figures only reflect verified incidents and are likely significantly lower than the actual toll. Ukrainian authorities claim that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, with the highest death toll in Mariupol, according to local officials, at over 20,000.
