By the end of May 2025 russia likely incurred approximately 980,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Ukrainian General Staff data, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
In the first five months of 2025, russia likely sustained approximately 196,000 casualties. However, through 2025 so far, russian casualty rates have been generally decreasing. 48,000 were recorded in January 2025, and the 34,500 in May 2025 was the lowest monthly total of the year, a drop of 28 per cent.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Analyzes Why russia Returned to Consecutive Long-Range Aviation Strikes
Russian activity was lower in the opening months of 2025, which has likely correlated to a drop in the rate of reported casualties. Casualty rates will highly likely increase if russia increases its attacks across the frontline in Ukraine.
As Defense Express previously reported, over three consecutive nights, May 23-26, 2025, russia conducted three of its largest-scale one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (OWA UAS) attacks against Ukraine since the start of the war. The OWA UAS strikes were part of a wider multi-axis, multi-weapon strike package, particularly targeting Kyiv.
Defense Express also reported that after months out of the public eye, former russian commander Sergey Surovikin has appeared at an embassy event in Algeria, signaling a new official role amid lingering questions about his ties to the Wagner Group.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russia Quietly Reinstates General Linked to the Wagner Group in Diplomatic Role
