Russia-Ukraine War: Nearly 2 million soldiers killed or injured since 2022

According to a study by a leading American think tank, nearly two million soldiers from both sides have been killed, wounded, or gone missing since the war began-making it one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 28 January 2026, 3:21 PM IST

New Delhi: The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year, and a new report has exposed the devastating human cost of the prolonged conflict.

According to a study by a leading American think tank, nearly two million soldiers from both sides have been killed, wounded, or gone missing since the war began-making it one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history.

CSIS Report Exposes the True Cost of the War

The report was released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US-based think tank known for its defense and security analysis. The study estimates that total casualties on both sides have already reached around 1.8 million, and could cross two million by spring 2026 if the war continues at its current pace.

The findings highlight the unprecedented scale of losses suffered by both Russia and Ukraine.

• Russia Suffers the Heaviest Casualties
• According to the CSIS report, Russia has borne the brunt of the losses.
• Total Russian casualties: approximately 1.2 million
• Estimated Russian soldiers killed: around 325,000

The study notes that no major global power has suffered such high military casualties in a single conflict since World War II. Despite these enormous losses, the report states that Russia’s territorial gains have been slow and limited, raising serious questions about the strategic cost of the war.

• Ukraine Also Pays a Heavy Price
• Ukraine’s military has also suffered significant losses over the course of the conflict.
• Total Ukrainian casualties: between 500,000 and 600,000
• Estimated deaths: 100,000 to 140,000 soldiers

CSIS analysts point out that the true number may be even higher, as many soldiers are still listed as missing or believed to be prisoners of war.

Official Figures vs Independent Estimates

In February 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with an American television channel that around 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since 2022. However, independent military analysts believe this figure significantly underrepresents the real toll of the war.

One of the Deadliest Wars of the Modern Era

The CSIS report underscores that the Russia-Ukraine war has evolved into one of the deadliest and most costly military conflicts of the 21st century, with losses on a scale not seen for decades.

As the war drags on, experts warn that the human cost will continue to rise unless a political or diplomatic solution is found.