UK intel: Russian casualties almost doubled in 2024, with overall losses likely reaching 790,000

The British Ministry of Defense reported in its intelligence update on 7 January that Russian forces sustained nearly 430,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in 2024, a significant increase compared to 252,940 casualties recorded in 2023.

December 2024 saw an average daily casualty rate of 1,570 for Russian forces, the highest on record, according to the UK report.

The UK Defense Ministry wrote:

• Russian forces sustained 429,660 casualties (killed and wounded) in the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2024, a notable increase from the 252,940 casualties sustained in 2023, according to Ukrainian General Staff reporting. Since the start of the conflict, Russia has likely sustained over 790,000 casualties.
• December 2024 was likely the most costly month of the war for Russia, with a total of 48,670 casualties reported by the Ukrainian General Staff. 45,680 Russian casualties were recorded in November 2024. December marked the sixth straight month of increasing monthly total losses for Russian forces.
• The average daily Russian casualties reached a new monthly war high during December 2024, with an average daily loss rate of 1,570. This was the fifth consecutive month that Russian forces sustained new record-high average daily losses. On 19 December 2024, Russian forces suffered 2,200 losses in a single day, a new high.
• Russia is highly likely to continue experiencing high casualty rates in January 2025, with continued dismounted infantry attacks on multiple axes.

Today, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry updated its estimations of the Russian losses, stating that this figure has surpassed 800,000 since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian losses in Ukraine surpass 800,000 troops, says General Staff

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