Ukraine’s military says Russia’s total losses in the war have now crossed 1.22 million personnel, underscoring the scale and intensity of a conflict that has entered its fourth year with no sign of slowing. The latest figures, released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 15, show particularly heavy losses in drones and artillery, reflecting how modern warfare has reshaped the battlefield.
According to the update, Russian forces lost an estimated 1,150 soldiers in the past 24 hours alone, along with 929 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukrainian officials said the data reflects sustained pressure across multiple fronts as fighting continues in eastern and southern regions.
The General Staff publishes daily estimates of Russian losses, which are closely watched by analysts and governments around the world as one of the few consistent indicators of battlefield trends. While the figures cannot be independently verified in real time, Western intelligence agencies have repeatedly said Ukraine’s estimates broadly align with their own assessments.
Massive equipment losses highlight the changing nature of the war
Beyond personnel, Ukraine’s report details extensive Russian equipment losses since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the General Staff, Russian forces have lost approximately:
- 11,557 tanks, including seven destroyed in the past day
- 23,904 armored fighting vehicles
- 36,182 artillery systems, with 84 destroyed in the latest update
- 1,611 multiple-launch rocket systems
- 1,277 air defense systems
- 107,357 operational-tactical drones
- 4,163 cruise missiles
- 434 aircraft and 347 helicopters
- 28 warships and boats, and two submarines
The destruction of nearly a thousand drones in a single day highlights the central role of unmanned systems in the war. Drones are now used extensively for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and direct strikes, making them both indispensable and highly expendable.
Military analysts say the sharp rise in drone losses reflects both increased usage and intensified counter-drone measures. As Russia deploys large numbers of relatively inexpensive UAVs, Ukraine has responded with layered air defenses, electronic warfare, and interceptor drones of its own.
Ukrainian commanders frame 2025 as a turning point
Ukrainian military leaders have described the past year as one of the most challenging since the invasion began. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia entered 2025 aiming to break Ukrainian resistance and impose its terms through battlefield dominance.
According to Syrskyi, Russian plans included pushing toward key southern cities and expanding control along the Black Sea coast. Ukrainian forces, he said, managed to disrupt those objectives despite constant pressure and sustained attacks.
Ukrainian officials also claim that their own personnel losses decreased by around 13% over the past year, citing improved tactics, better defensive positions, and more effective use of technology. Kyiv has long declined to release detailed casualty figures during the war, saying such data will be made public after hostilities end.
In an interview earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has suffered more than 46,000 killed and around 380,000 wounded since February 2022, offering one of the few official glimpses into the human cost on Ukraine’s side.
Russia remains silent as outside estimates mount
Russia does not regularly disclose its military losses. Moscow last released official casualty figures in September 2022, when it claimed fewer than 6,000 soldiers had been killed. Since then, the Kremlin has largely avoided public discussion of losses, even as independent reports suggest far higher numbers.
British military intelligence, in an assessment released late last year, estimated that Russia may have suffered around 382,000 killed or wounded during 2025 alone. According to that analysis, total Russian casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion likely approached 1.17 million by the end of the year.
The British report also noted a steady rise in average daily Russian losses through late 2025, with November figures exceeding those recorded in previous months. Analysts said this trend points to sustained high-intensity combat rather than a frozen or low-level conflict.
Numbers reflect attrition, not imminent victory
Experts caution that casualty figures, while staggering, do not automatically translate into a decisive shift on the battlefield. Russia continues to draw on a large population, domestic arms production, and external supplies to sustain its operations.
At the same time, Ukraine relies heavily on Western military aid to maintain its defenses and replenish equipment. The war has increasingly become one of attrition, where manpower, industrial capacity, and political endurance matter as much as tactical gains.
Still, the scale of reported losses underscores the immense cost of the conflict and the pressure facing Russia’s military machine. The destruction of tens of thousands of vehicles, artillery systems, and drones suggests constant strain on logistics and production lines.
As the war continues into 2026, Ukraine’s daily updates offer a stark reminder of how modern warfare consumes lives and resources at a pace rarely seen in Europe since World War II. Whether these losses will force strategic recalculations remains uncertain, but the numbers alone highlight why the conflict continues to command global attention.