In April 2025, Russian forces captured only 68 square miles of Ukraine. That might sound like a lot, but Ukraine is a very large country, spreading across 233,000 square miles.
Heavy Losses for Small Gains
Even after more than two years of fighting, 19% of Ukraine is still under Russian control, but progress is painfully slow for Russia.
And this tiny gain came at an enormous cost. According to a military data analyst who uses reports from Ukraine’s general staff, Russia lost about 4,800 vehicles in April alone. Even more staggering, around 36,600 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded during that month.
In contrast, Ukrainian losses were minimal in April, as per Konrad Muzyka, an analyst from Rochan Consulting based in Poland.
Let’s look at the math. It would take Russia until the year 2256 to completely occupy Ukraine at the current rate of progress and if precisely this scenario persisted. And by then, it would have suffered a shocking 101 million military casualties—nearly as many people as Russia’s entire population today, which stands at 144 million.
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Despite these massive losses, Russia keeps sending in more troops and equipment. Surprisingly, the Russian military has not collapsed. In fact, it is even growing.
How Is Russia Still Fighting?
The Russian government has found a way to keep its war machine running. Part of the answer lies in numbers. According to Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the top U.S. Russia is hiring over 30,000 new soldiers each month, according to an army official in Europe. Some of the soldiers who are injured return to fight again after recovery.
This constant supply of new fighters means that Russia is actually growing its military force in Ukraine. Approximately 600,000 Russian troops are currently engaged in combat in Ukraine. That’s almost twice as many as Russia had at the start of the war in February 2022.
But the Russian military is not made up of just tanks and armored vehicles anymore. Because of the heavy destruction of military equipment, the Kremlin has started sending civilian vehicles to the front lines. These include scooters, small cars, and even buses. This shows how stretched the Russian forces are in terms of military resources.
What’s keeping the recruitment levels high? Experts say it comes down to money and mood. Many young Russians are signing up to fight because of high sign-on bonuses. Others think the war might end soon, so they join in hopes of quick rewards.
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The War Economy and the Financial Tightrope
Russia is investing more on its armed forces than it has in many years. According to Gen. Cavoli, defense currently accounts for 40% of Russia’s government budget. It’s the highest since the time of the Cold War. In contrast, roughly 13% of the US federal budget is allocated to the military.
This heavy spending has made many Russians feel that the war is worth it. As a result of government investment in weapons and war-related industries, unemployment in Russia has dropped to just 2.4%. Factories are busy, people are working, and the economy seems to be running—but only on the surface.
Behind the scenes, Russia is struggling. Lower oil prices have cut down a major source of income. On top of that, Ukrainian drone attacks have damaged important infrastructure and reduced Russia’s export ability. According to official sources, economic growth in Russia has fallen to less than half of what it was a year ago.
To keep paying for the war, President Vladimir Putin increased both personal and corporate taxes. This means ordinary Russians and businesses are now giving more of their money to the government. Analysts like Alexander Kolyandr from the Center for European Policy Analysis say Russia is now focused mainly on war industries instead of regular development.
Despite the risks and the massive expenses, the Russian government continues to pour money and resources into the war in Ukraine. According to Gen. Cavoli, the country has changed its military, economic, and social systems to support a long-term conflict.
The Russian leadership believes they are in a long fight, and they are preparing for it—even if it costs them more people, more money, and more years.