RF losses approaching 1.5 million: Russia replenishing army with foreigners and prisoners

RF losses approaching 1.5 million: Russia replenishing army with foreigners and prisoners

Russia’s losses in the war against Ukraine are approaching 1.5 million occupiers. The Kremlin is reinforcing its army’s personnel with both prisoners and tens of thousands of foreign troops.

This is reported by Newsweek.

Experts note that calculating real losses in the war is difficult. Both sides may overestimate the opponent’s losses and conceal their own. This is necessary to maintain morale, preserve international support, and strengthen their positions in negotiations.

According to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of August 11, the occupiers’ losses in the war have reached 1,460,400 people. This refers to both killed and wounded soldiers who may have already returned to the front line.

At the same time, British intelligence GCHQ in May estimated the number of killed Russian servicemen at approximately 500,000.

According to data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia may have lost about 450,000 troops killed. The enemy’s total losses are estimated at around 1.4 million people.

For comparison, CSIS estimates Ukraine’s probable losses at 625,000 troops, of which up to 150,000 are killed.

Newsweek notes that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the main part of the Russian army’s losses consisted of elite military units. Later, Moscow began involving prisoners and mercenaries from the Wagner PMC.

Then Russia increasingly relied on volunteers. By the fall of 2024, they were the ones dying the most in the war. In addition, Moscow has been recruiting foreign troops, including from North Korea.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia may receive up to 50,000 North Korean troops, which is more than North Korea sent in 2024. At that time, about 14,000 North Korean servicemen fought on the enemy’s side.