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Russia has lost 240,000 soldiers this year in Ukraine war, says UK Defence Minister

Even as Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine in recent months, it has lost up to 240,000 soldiers so far this year, according to a British assessment. read more Servicemen of the 24th Mechanized brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops, on a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 15, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Even as Vladimir Putin has ramped up attacks on Ukraine and made gains on the ground, the costs have been huge, according to the latest Western assessment. British Defence Minister John Healey has said that Russia suffered up to 240,000 casualties in the first seven months of this year. 'The number of Russian soldiers killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion has surpassed 1,000,000. Since the beginning of this year alone—240,000 casualties,' said Healey at a meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group, as per military-focussed Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The British assessment is in line with US and Ukrainian assessments about the high toll of the war on Russia. ALSO READ: With Russia's terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender — not a peace deal Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Russia has relied on a 'meat-grinder strategy' in which Russia has pushed waves after waves of soldiers to overwhelm Ukrainian defences with sheer numbers — instead of fighting tactical battles and trying to avoid losses. Even though the strategy has resulted in successes, the losses have been high for Russia and commentators have said that the approach may eventually fail if Western assistance to Ukraine continues. Russia has lost over 1 million soldiers since 2022 The British assessment is in line with previously reported assessment of the United States, Ukraine, and independent researchers. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that at least 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed this year. Rubio said that 'since the beginning of 2025, roughly 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine—dead, not wounded'. Similarly, Ukraine this month said that the Russian toll —injured and killed— this year has been 252,360. Such figures are in line with the independent assessment of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that concluded that Russia had suffered around 1 million casualties. The assessment was published in June. Out of around 1 million casualties, around 250,000 soldiers were killed and the rest were wounded, according to the CSIS study. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD