Ukrainian Soldiers: A Grim Toll
Since the full‑scale invasion kicked off in February 2022, Ukraine has been recording a sobering casualty count.
Key Figures
- Deaths: The Economist estimates between 60,000 and 100,000 soldiers have fallen.
- Serious Wounds: Roughly 400,000 troops have been injured to the extent that they can no longer fight on the frontlines.
- Zelensky’s Early Claim: In February, President Volodymyr Zelensky first announced that 31,000 of his men had already died.
- Wall Street Journal: September’s report pegged the death toll at about 80,000, matching the wounded figure of 400,000.
How the Numbers Came About
The Economist’s approach is a mix of intel, defence officials, researchers, and open‑source data—most notably the Kyiv Independent. Despite the variety of sources, pinning down an exact count for either side remains a near‑impossible feat.
Russia’s Perspective
The Ukrainian Armed Forces claim Russia has lost more than 735,000 soldiers since the war began—another figure that is still shrouded in uncertainty.
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