The Armed Forces of the russian federation have likely sustained approximately 900,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Of these, it is likely 200,000-250,000 russian soldiers have been killed, russia’s largest losses since the Second World War, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and russian military leadership highly likely prioritize their war objectives over the lives of russian soldiers. They are almost certainly prepared to tolerate continuously high casualty rates so long as this does not negatively affect public or elite support for the war, and those losses can be replaced.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: with Over Half a Million Wounded Service Members, the Strain on russian Military Medical System Further Drains
Vladimir Putin and russian leadership highly likely place significantly less value on the lives of ethnic minority russian citizens from impoverished regions, with russian recruitment efforts consequently focussed disproportionately on these areas. Slavic russians from urban centres such as Moscow and St. Petersburg have contributed disproportionately fewer service personnel than their poorer, ethnic minority compatriots.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Analyzes the Consequences of Ukraine’s Largest UAS Attack on russia
