The Bloody Toll of Russia's War in Ukraine

Monday, March 20, 2023

The human cost to Russia of its invasion of Ukraine grows each month -- but how bad is it? Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies offers a detailed assessment of Russian casualties, finding that it is the most deadly conflict for the Russian military -- by far -- since World War II.

Posted by lamplighter at 11:32 PM | 66 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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... Russia's war in Ukraine has taken an extraordinary human toll. Russian soldiers have been involved in alleged war crimes, including the rape and summary executions of Ukrainian civilians. The Russian military has also targeted Ukraine's civilian population with heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, missiles, and air and naval strikes. According to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, "Every day that violations of international human rights and humanitarian law continue, it becomes harder and harder to find a way forward through mounting suffering and destruction, towards peace."

But the war is also decimating Russian President Vladimir Putin's own military. Russia has suffered more combat fatalities in Ukraine in the first year of the war than in all of its wars since World War II combined. In addition, the average rate of Russian regular and irregular soldiers killed per month in Ukraine over the first year of the war was at least 25 times the number killed per month in Russia's war in Chechnya and at least 35 times the number killed per month in the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan. While Putin has managed to limit domestic opposition to the war, the current fatality rates may be difficult to sustain in a protracted war. ...

A war of attrition is not the type of conflict that Russian leaders likely hoped or expected when they invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but it is the war they have now. Russian leaders initially developed a blitzkrieg strategy, in which mechanized forces would move rapidly into Ukraine and seize Kyiv and key Ukrainian cities. But Russia's strategy failed. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-03-20 02:04 PM | Reply

The only good Russian is a dead Russian.

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-03-20 03:21 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

As long as the number of zinc-lined coffins coming home to St. Petersburg and Moscow stays at a manageable level, Putin seems good to go internally. (The dead from the hustings? Pffft!). This is a pretty brutal, eff the other guy, yessir three bags full society loaded with folks conditioned to seek something akin to happiness through compliance. But keep those numbers churning and even the muzhik mentality of the Russian Army grunts might vaguely recall 1915. Until then, Putin leaves the Ukrainians no choice but to up the body count as best they can without getting annihilated themselves. Which is, after all, much of the point of what too often seems pointlessness itself.

"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
Gen. George S. Patton, 1944, preparing troops for D-Day

#3 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2023-03-20 05:20 PM | Reply

Where's Jeff to say we should just let Putin rape, murder and pillage?

#4 | Posted by Sycophant at 2023-03-21 12:22 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I suspect that most Russians have no concern about former convicts coming home in caskets. So long as Vlad the recruiting officer can avoid conscripting sons of the wealthy and the most promising college students he will have his pick of Russian men to press into service. At some point rich kids and bright students will be forced to join the fray and then--and only then--Vlad's general staff and close advisors will start to push back...

#5 | Posted by catdog at 2023-03-21 09:20 AM | Reply

They brought up an alleged 1800 more tanks and already lost at least 70, and an equal number of infantry fighting vehicles to match just at Vuhledar. The recent Ukranian counter-offensives didn't do any better. The only way forward is WW1 tactics.

#6 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2023-03-21 09:28 AM | Reply

I remember a MASH episode where they were all in the OR and Father Mulcahey said, "War is hell" and Hawkeye corrected him by saying that between war and hell war is worse. Padre asked him why. He followed with a question of his own asking Padre who goes to hell? "Sinners." Hawkeye then pointed out that there are no innocent bystanders in hell whereas war is chock full of them.

Biden's approach thus far has been to throw resources to Ukraine and prolong the carnage as long as possible. I can't believe I'm about to say this but maybe China getting involved will result in them brokering some kind of truce? I doubt it though. Their best interest is to bleed us dry - which means they will give Russia barely enough resources to keep this going as long as possible.

#8 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 11:22 AM | Reply

Biden's approach thus far has been to throw resources to Ukraine and prolong the carnage as long as possible.

#8 | Posted by BellRinger

Lie. Biden's approach has been to throw resources to Ukraine to defend democracy from fascism.

Your approach is to let fascists overthrow democracies, just like you want to allow in america.

#9 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-21 11:24 AM | Reply

#9. So just keep doing what isn't working without any consideration of a course correction? That's the definition of insanity.

You cheer endless war.

#10 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 11:27 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

" So just keep doing what isn't working"

Isn't working?!?

So, Vlad's three day plan was successful?

#11 | Posted by Danforth at 2023-03-21 11:28 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

You also love fascism in America. We have a censorship complex and you love it.

#12 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 11:29 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

#11. So, do we have a hard cap as to how much money we are going to throw at this?

Or do we just plow forward with eyes closed and hope for a desired outcome?

#13 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 11:33 AM | Reply

#9. So just keep doing what isn't working without any consideration of a course correction? That's the definition of insanity.

You cheer endless war.

#10 | Posted by BellRinger

Isn't working? Putin is now a laughingstock, his smartest people are fleeing his country, his dumbest people are getting slaughtered, his at war with his own military leaders, and his rich people are having their wealth dry up.

Our biggest enemy is getting beaten up and it's only costing us 10% of our military budget. A total bargain.

Why would we stop?

#15 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-21 11:41 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Iraq war (not America's war?)
Afghanistan war (not America's war?)
Balkan war (not America's war?)
Vietnam war (not America's war?)

Ukraine war (Russia's war)

Without discussing the merits of any, only pointing out the linguistic manipulation.

#14 | Posted by orgasmdonor

Iraq war - republican war
Afghanistan war - republican war
Balkan war - not America's war.
Vietnam war - republican war

Ukraine war (Russia's war)

#16 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-21 11:44 AM | Reply

" Why would we stop?

#15 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY AT 2023-03-21 11:41 AM | FLAG: "

Well, it's not OUR war. And Russia (also China) isn't an enemy. A geopolitical adversary? Absolutely. We still trade with them and trade our asses off with China.

Again, do we even consider a hard cap as to how much we throw at this? To hell with F-16's, Maybe a dozen F-22's?

#18 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 11:54 AM | Reply

-We still trade with them and trade our asses off with China.

Trade has always been and will always be the #1 reason why we avoid military conflicts with nations.

#20 | Posted by eberly at 2023-03-21 12:05 PM | Reply

LOL. Trade is also the #1 reason we engage in conflicts with nations.

#21 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-03-21 12:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Well, it's not OUR war. And Russia (also China) isn't an enemy. A geopolitical adversary? Absolutely. We still trade with them and trade our asses off with China.

Again, do we even consider a hard cap as to how much we throw at this? To hell with F-16's, Maybe a dozen F-22's?

#18 | Posted by BellRinger

Russia created an internet army to try and rip our nation apart from within and installed a traitor in the white house. You dont think that qualifies as being an enemy?

I know it's hard to call them that when they do so much to help your party win power. Why is that by the way?

#22 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-21 12:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Bellend and ------,

When you find yourself supporting a fascist dictator, even a short, fat, bald one, over an American president on any issue, you are in the wrong. Putin has invaded multiple countries on his borders using techniques directly from the Nazi playbook. Their excuses are 19th century colonialism twaddle.

Biden's approach has been to support a democratic government being invaded by its neighbor on the flimsiest of excuses. He is the champion of liberty in this time, as Putin is the champion of rape, murder, and theft.

And Bellend, like we did with Hitler and with the Soviets, we throw whatever it takes at the task in order to defeat them. They will be defeated unless the world's conservatives are successful at getting us to kneel at Putin's/ Xi's feet. China is our enemy and will be for so long as communism exists. Our business community is slowly cutting our throat by exporting our manufacturing capability to China. When the war comes, we may not have sufficient manufacturing capacity to win.

Your kind will be remembered as the quislings are remembered, if at all.

#23 | Posted by Killjoy at 2023-03-21 01:25 PM | Reply

"We have a censorship complex and you love it."

You believe censorship is when an editorial board makes a decision you wouldn't have made. Or when they agree with a reasonable request...if it's from a Democrat.

Along the way you've misrepresented Section 230, claimed government censorship when Trump was the government, and pretended the Biden campaign was "the government" when they weren't. And still, you haven't proven ONE SINGLE INSTANCE of actual government censorship.

#24 | Posted by Danforth at 2023-03-21 01:27 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

@#7 ... Russia's war... ...

It is Russia's war.

It started when Pres Putin thought his plan for an invasion and takeover of a sovereign Ukraine would only take a couple three weeks.

Russia can end the war at any time by withdrawing its forces and returning the illegally seized land back to Ukraine.

#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-03-21 05:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" When you find yourself supporting a fascist dictator" - Killjoy

When you start with a straw man the rest gets ignored.

#26 | Posted by BellRinger at 2023-03-21 06:54 PM | Reply

When you start with a straw man the rest gets ignored.

#26 | Posted by BellRinger

Where's the straw man? How is parroting fascist dictator talking points every day not supporting that fascist dictator?

#27 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-21 07:40 PM | Reply

WW1 in 2023?

Thousands dead, thousands more maimed.

Feeding and watering the slaughter like the bloodthirsty ghouls they are with no regard for the terrible cost to people involved is SICK, not righteous.

Seeking peace is not"acceptable", to Biden or the NATO Vassals.

Putin is willing to negotiate,Xi is willing to be an intermediary,but the West requires Total Victory,if it destroys the Ukraine for decades or kills hundreds of thousands of people,that's"acceptable".

Talking to the Russians and ending this isn't?

Sick Bastards,they don't care about Ukrainian lives at all.

They're just using them,like pawns, in a sick chess game of death,for their own ends.

And the Ukranian leadership has no ability to Veto this.

NATO owns them.

#28 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 12:56 AM | Reply

Russia invaded a sovereign country because their no-talent loser of a dictator wanted the world to remember him.
We remember you as a bloodthirsty fool, surrounded by idiots.

#29 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-03-22 10:13 AM | Reply

I WAS NEVER IN FAVOR OF THE INVASION. It's an ongoing reality. NATO is pushing something for their own reasons. They want to "weaken" Russia, many people are being killed,Ukraine is being destroyed. Why Russia invaded is really not the point,the point is stopping the ongoing war. If NATO was serious about liberating Ukraine they would get directly involved and fight.

This proxy crap is cynical and disingenuous,they are using the Ukrainian war as a way to fight Russia without actually getting any of their own people killed.

Like Syria,it's not helping the Ukrainians,it's using them as puppets.

The result will be the same,endless war and the whole country destroyed for decades.

But NATO takes no risks. They just push others to take them for them.

If the Ukrainian leadership were to negotiate with Russia all Western aid would end.

The Ukrainians are in a box,owned by NATO, they have no freedom of action but to do what is expected of them.

He who feeds a man is that man's master. That's the dynamic here.

Without Western assistance, Ukraine would have been overrun months ago.

The real war is between Russia and NATO,not Russia and Ukraine.

#30 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 11:35 AM | Reply

"Well, it's not OUR war. And Russia (also China) isn't an enemy. A geopolitical adversary? Absolutely. We still trade with them and trade our asses off with China.

Again, do we even consider a hard cap as to how much we throw at this? To hell with F-16's, Maybe a dozen F-22's?
#18 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER"

Hmmm? Well, I dare write that any country that has nuclear weapons aimed at us is our enemy and both China and Russia have nuclear weapons aimed at us and actively practice blowing up our cities. The Chinese also hold giant military parades with their arsenal of nuclear missiles with their children sit on floats with fake nukes and American cities burning in the backdrop. I really think these are not our friends. Why would you unless you are on their side and a traitor? We trade with them because our right wing fascist have brought much of their manufacturing to China so as to get richer dodging western rules on labor rights and environmental controls and with the excuse that we will expose China to our democratic capitalistic ways. Sure, they(the Chinese) brought into the capitalism where they can make mad money exploiting their own people(including children) as quasi slaves and it is all controlled by their state. The forces their Moslem population to work as slaves. With this newfound wealth, the Chinese have entrenched their own state control over their own folks and wish to export this around the globe via dubious trade deals that leave the unsuspecting country they trade with at a disadvantage where they can take over parts of their country as their own. Russia, a pure fascist state ran by abject corrupt fascists who invaded a democratic state that wished to escape their boot on their neck. We(The USA/Western states) invaded Iraq and Afghanistan neither of which were democratic. Iraq was a giant error by the Bush junta who were after the oil, none of which we ended up with as the Chinese outbid us for it. Afghanistan harbored the Taliban who had brought down the Twin Towers in an act of war so I was in total support of invading Afghanistan and killing every single one of Al Qaeda and any of the Taliban that added and abated those terrorists. My sources on the ground in Afghanistan, who were their for seven years and before that seven years in Iraq, told me that the Chinese were all over the country prior to our exit and were exploiting natural resources yet did nothing to secure the country just like in Iraq they let us die for their oil and resource extraction companies. Bush like Putler needs to be placed in irons and tossed into prison for the remaining period of their lives for all of this mess.

#31 | Posted by Wildman62 at 2023-03-22 11:51 AM | Reply

The real war is between Russia and NATO,not Russia and Ukraine.

#30 | Posted by Effeteposer

The real war is between fascism and democracy. Why have you chosen to side with fascism?

#32 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 12:59 PM | Reply

It blows me away that certain right wingers on this site (and this thread) somehow blame US policy for the death toll of an ongoing Russian invasion of another country. What is wrong with you people?

#33 | Posted by moder8 at 2023-03-22 01:32 PM | Reply

It blows me away that certain right wingers on this site (and this thread) somehow blame US policy for the death toll of an ongoing Russian invasion of another country. What is wrong with you people?

#33 | Posted by moder8

To be fair, the US did it first, but we didn't try to seize and erase the other country. Our mistake was not prosecuting bush for his invasion and sending the message that starting a war based on lies was unacceptable. But us being deceived by republicans and letting them get away with it doesn't mean we should just let anyone invade anyone else.

#34 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 01:35 PM | Reply

Not only has Ukraine destroyed thousands of Russian tanks, Russia has become Ukraine's largest provider of them for the UKA.

Russia is so hard up they're now sending WWII era tanks into Ukraine:

/ link in the last tweet. T-62s were too modern for you to see in Ukraine? Now Russia is moving its T-54/55 tanks to the front line, as @CITeam_en finds out from the photos obtained from their source. @planet satellite imagery corroborates this claim. pic.twitter.com/PMTwWaqFJL

- Mark Krutov (@kromark) March 22, 2023

#35 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2023-03-22 02:26 PM | Reply

Russia will have to be defeated to be charged,and prosecuted.

Ukrainian war crimes will be ignored unless Russia wins and holds them to account.

Neither Russia or Ukraine recognize the court's authority.

Only Ukraine even admits it has authority, but even then, not over crimes THEY commit.

Nice hypocrisy there.

#36 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 02:27 PM | Reply

In Russia, trains with ancient T-54/55 were seen, which were withdrawn from storage bases. It is said to be the first recorded instance of T-54/55 withdrawal from storage.More details by link - https://t.co/Un6aVmXkk2 https://t.co/paPEphI0H2 pic.twitter.com/PsvI1bdbHz

- Special Kherson Cat ... (@bayraktar_1love) March 22, 2023

CIT (en)
@CITeam_en

9h
Tank modelers, rejoice: we have obtained exclusive photos of outdated (mid-20th century) T-54/55 tanks hauled on a train westwards from strategic storage in Russia's Far East. We assume it may indicate armor supply issues in the Russian Army https://notes.citeam.org/t-54?1

#37 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2023-03-22 02:29 PM | Reply

#36 How many ruble did you get for that post Effeteposer??

#38 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2023-03-22 02:31 PM | Reply

Or they just want to use up old equipment.

#39 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 02:32 PM | Reply

Or they just want to use up old equipment.

Fair enough, that's what NATO has been doing for a year.

#40 | Posted by REDIAL at 2023-03-22 02:33 PM | Reply

Can you imagine these tanks going up against Leopard, Challenger or Abrams tanks? And where is Russia going to get the rifled ammunition these tanks use? (100mm)

There are other issues with this tank (T54/55); it takes a four-man crew rather than three because the fourth man has to reload (no autoload), which makes the casualty rate when they get blown up 33% higher.

#41 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2023-03-22 02:40 PM | Reply

Only Ukraine even admits it has authority, but even then, not over crimes THEY commit.

Nice hypocrisy there.

#36 | Posted by Effeteposer

Ukraines not the one kidnapping kids from another country, your pal putin is. Where's the hipocrisy?

#42 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 02:45 PM | Reply

Murdering prisoners, torturing prisoners,castrating prisoners. Killing "collaborators" without any due process.

Targeting civilians in terrorist attacks.

Plenty of crimes There. That's what Nazis do.

#43 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 03:20 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Murdering prisoners, torturing prisoners,castrating prisoners. Killing "collaborators" without any due process.

Targeting civilians in terrorist attacks.

Plenty of crimes There. That's what Nazis do.

#43 | Posted by Effeteposer

Nazis weren't defending their country. They were trying to absorb others, that's what putin is doing.

#44 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 03:31 PM | Reply

War crimes are war crimes,plenty on both sides. But only Russia getting charged.....for getting kids out of a war zone to safety.

Not for murders,not for mistreating prisoners,for helping abandoned children.

The Ukrainians have a prewar history of abandoning children. Most abandoned children in Europe,look it up.

#45 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 03:54 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

" War crimes are war crimes,plenty on both sides. But only Russia getting charged.....for getting kids out of a war zone to safety."

you absolutely disgust me.

#46 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2023-03-22 04:01 PM | Reply

their parents are likely dead! murdered by russians.

seriously, what is your malfunction?

#47 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2023-03-22 04:05 PM | Reply

The Ukrainians weren't helping, so the Russians did. Now they're called criminals for That? What's your malfunction?

Those Ukrainians can do no wrong?

#48 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 04:20 PM | Reply

Russians invaded and created the entire situation.
They killed Ukrainian parents and kidnap their children.
Here you are defending it on a blog like a poor mans Tokyo Rose.
You're a sick person.

#49 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2023-03-22 04:24 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"But only Russia getting charged.....for getting kids out of a war zone to safety."

A WAR THEY STARTED. You really are a sad little idiot.

#50 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-03-22 04:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

War crimes are war crimes,plenty on both sides. But only Russia getting charged.....for getting kids out of a war zone to safety.

Not for murders,not for mistreating prisoners,for helping abandoned children.

The Ukrainians have a prewar history of abandoning children. Most abandoned children in Europe,look it up.

#45 | Posted by Effeteposer

So do koreans. Should putin invade korea?

#51 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 04:25 PM | Reply

"for getting kids out of a war zone"

Sorry pal, you don't get credit for getting kids out of the war zone, when you're the one who put them in to start.

Don't look now, but the only Nazis left are in your mirror.

Wait, I take it back. Look. Now.

#52 | Posted by Danforth at 2023-03-22 04:28 PM | Reply

Should putin invade korea?

He'd have to get permission from Xi first.

#53 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-03-22 04:31 PM | Reply

"how much a ceasefire would cost."

Ukraine could allow Russia to start exporting grain through the black sea again.

But putin won't allow a ceasefire.

#55 | Posted by Tor at 2023-03-22 04:35 PM | Reply

If the Ukrainians were not helping the abandoned children, or had no way to help them,should the Russians have left the children there to die in a war zone? Would leaving them there alone with no adult help or supervision been more humane?

Would letting them suffer cold and hunger so Ukrainian people could step up be the right thing?

When children are cold and hungry you help them,you don't wait for the "right" people to show up if they are obviously abandoned to the elements.

Was this ideal? No. But if these kids were truly alone it was mercy, not criminal to help them.

Why not charge the Russians for real crimes like murder or torturing prisoners?

Why for this?

#56 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 04:38 PM | Reply

Kidnapping children in a war zone you started is considered genocide. Look it up.

#57 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2023-03-22 04:39 PM | Reply

"how much a ceasefire would cost."

Over what horizon? Just short enough for a talking point?

#58 | Posted by Danforth at 2023-03-22 04:40 PM | Reply

I doubt a cold hungry kid with no parents and no other help around would think "genocide" when people helped them.

So you're saying the Russians should have left little kids running loose in a meatgrinder artillery zone?

Just figured it's not their problem,and walked away.

We don't live in a perfect world. The war exists,orphaned kids exist.

Someone had to help.

#59 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 04:48 PM | Reply

There are far bigger war crimes being committed every day over there,why pick this one to prosecute?

#60 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2023-03-22 04:49 PM | Reply

#56 | Posted by Effeteposer

Not killing their parents would be the humane choice you dumb ----.

You don't get to slaughter a kid's parents then claim you're helping the kid by adopting them.

#61 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 05:01 PM | Reply

There are far bigger war crimes being committed every day over there,why pick this one to prosecute?

#60 | Posted by Effeteposer

According to the tv stations that putin took over and their parrots in conservative media?

#62 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-03-22 05:02 PM | Reply

AFatPoofter is a useless, used up old troll.

#63 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-03-22 05:47 PM | Reply

The propaganda is in overdrive right now with the Putin-Xi meeting and envelopment of Bahkmut and Avdiivka. At this rate of attrition though it could take a million Russian lives to reach the Dnipro banks.

#64 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2023-03-22 05:55 PM | Reply

Can you imagine these tanks going up against Leopard, Challenger or Abrams tanks? And where is Russia going to get the rifled ammunition these tanks use? (100mm)
There are other issues with this tank (T54/55); it takes a four-man crew rather than three because the fourth man has to reload (no autoload), which makes the casualty rate when they get blown up 33% higher.

#41 | POSTED BY AMERICANUNITY AT 2023-03-22 02:40 PM | FLAG:

You use the T54/55 for training crews then transition them quickly into a T-64 or -72 the Russians still have by the thousand or so. Lack of an autoloader is good, NATO doesn't use them, they explode when hit as seen by the many hundreds of flying turrets in Ukraine.

#65 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2023-03-22 05:58 PM | Reply

Do they? I doubt it.

#66 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-03-22 08:36 PM | Reply