Ukraine war briefing: More than 2 million military casualties caused by Russia's invasion, study finds

A new study by the American thinktank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reports that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in over 2 million military casualties. The study estimates that around 400,000 to 450,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began in February 2022. In total, Russia has suffered between 1.4 million killed, wounded, or missing soldiers. Ukrainian forces have experienced between 125,000 and 150,000 deaths, with total casualties ranging from 525,000 to 625,000.

The report highlights a significant imbalance in losses, stating that Russian fatalities alone are more than four times greater than all US fatalities in wars since the Second World War. Furthermore, the ratio of Russian to Ukrainian casualties is estimated to have risen to about eight to one in the first half of this year.

In other developments, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight to Thursday, causing at least eight deaths and injuring dozens more. The strikes hit residential buildings, including a hotel, causing fires and trapping people. Kyiv's mayor reported that several floors of an apartment building collapsed after a direct hit. Russia's defence ministry claimed the attacks were a response to Ukrainian strikes on its own infrastructure.

Russia has also begun importing petrol from India, according to industry sources. This move aims to address fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russia's energy facilities. Reports suggest that at least 60,000 metric tons of gasoline have been sent from India, with two large tankers making the journey. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv's forces had attacked Russia's Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week.

German prosecutors have charged a suspect in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. German media reported the suspect is a Ukrainian national believed to have led the operation. This individual was previously arrested in Italy in 2025 and extradited to Germany. President Zelenskyy has denied any knowledge of such a plan by his government.

Finally, Ukraine is introducing a new framework for its arms manufacturers. A percentage of the revenue from exported products and components will be channelled into a state defence fund. This initiative aims to support Ukraine's growing weapons industry. Manufacturers will need to demonstrate their ability to meet both domestic defence orders and export contracts.