Russian President Vladimir Putin recently disclosed potential casualties among Russian troops in the face of Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive that began in June.
During an interview with Chinese media, he claimed that Ukraine’s losses are approximately eight times higher than Russia’s.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive has persisted for five months, marked by intense confrontations in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Putin remarked, “Since June 4, Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been ongoing. So far, there are no tangible results, only significant losses for Ukraine.”
On October 5, Putin asserted that Ukraine had lost 90,000 troops during its counteroffensive, implying that Russian losses might exceed 11,000 military personnel.
These figures remain unverified independently, with Russia’s Defense Ministry yet to comment.
As the death toll continues to rise on both sides, Moscow reportedly lost 860 soldiers in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 288,630, as per figures from Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.
These casualty estimates fluctuate, often with Kyiv’s numbers surpassing those of Western allies.
Notably, Russia rarely discloses its troop losses, with only one instance in September 2022 when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported 5,937 Russian troop casualties since late February 2022.
A joint investigation by BBC’s Russian Service and independent Russian news outlet Mediazona identified 34,412 Russian military personnel names who died in the war, suggesting that actual losses surpass the stated figures.
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Additionally, Russia’s federal budget draft for 2024-2026 allocates funds to the families of 102,700 military personnel killed in Ukraine, though these figures remain unverified.
Ukraine also refrains from publishing casualty figures for its forces, but Western intelligence estimates indicate substantial casualties.
In April, a leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment estimated 124,500 to 131,000 casualties for Kyiv, including dead and wounded.
