Russian casualties now estimated to be 350,000 since invasion of Ukraine

Russian armed forces and private military contractors have suffered around 350,000 casualties since the invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The MOD said since February 2022 Russia had suffered heavy casualties from both service personnel and contractors from the Wagner Group.

"Between 24 February 2022 and November 2023, official Russian MoD forces likely suffered between 180,000 and 240,000 personnel wounded and approximately 50,000 killed," the MOD said in its latest intelligence update on Ukraine.

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"The Russian side has likely suffered around 220,000-280,000 wounded and approximately 70,000 killed.

"This gives an estimated range of between 290,000 and 350,000 total Russian combatant casualties.

"The median of the estimate range is 320,000 total Russian combatant casualties.

"Wagner Group mercenaries likely suffered approximately 40,000 wounded and 20,000 killed.

"Even amongst Russian officials, there is likely a low level of understanding about total casualty figures because of a long-established culture of dishonest reporting within the military."

Ukraine had claimed that last month Russia was losing an average of 931 personnel each day,a figure described as "plausible" by MOD.

Russia and Ukraine are currently engaging in heavy fighting in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, particularly around the city of Avdiivka, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

If Russia manages to take the city, Ukraine’s ability to recapture the region's occupied territories will become far more difficult.