War Causalities

Author

Perplexity

Published

November 21, 2025

Q1: What are verified causalities figures in the current Ukrainian-Russian war?

The verified casualty figures for the current Ukrainian-Russian war indicate extremely high losses on both sides, with substantial military and civilian deaths and injuries reported throughout 2025. The estimates below reflect the most current numbers from reputable organizations and official statements.

Russian Military Casualties

  • As of mid-November 2025, Russia has sustained between 226,000 and 327,000 confirmed military deaths, based on BBC analysis of Russian servicemen and contractors only 12.
  • The total Russian casualties (killed, wounded, missing), according to UK Defense Intelligence and ISW reports from October 2025, exceed 1.1 million since the full-scale invasion began, with 332,000 casualties reported just in 2025 3.
  • Ukrainian military intelligence estimates 86,744 Russian soldiers killed and 33,996 missing in the first eight months of 2025 4.
  • Russia continues to experience over 1,000 daily casualties in the later months of 2025 5.

Ukrainian Military Casualties

  • Ukraine confirmed 43,000 military deaths as of December 2024, though Western analysts believe this is likely an undercount 6.
  • As of October 2025, projects cross-referencing Ukrainian military fatalities have documented 79,213 Ukrainian fighters killed by name and 81,728 missing in action, totaling 160,941 dead or missing 7.
  • Estimates from Western sources place Ukrainian losses between 60,000 and 100,000 killed and up to 400,000 wounded 8.
  • President Zelenskyy stated in February 2025 that over 46,000 Ukrainians had been killed and 380,000 wounded since the war began 9.

Civilian Casualties

  • The United Nations verified at least 13,883 civilian deaths and 35,548 injuries since the start of the full-scale invasion 1011.
  • Monthly civilian casualties in 2025 were significantly higher than in 2024, with July 2025 marking the highest death toll since May 2022 12.
  • Civilian death tolls surpassed 13,800 by July 2025, according to OHCHR 13.
  • The most recent attacks resulted in 25–26 people killed and nearly 100 injured, including children, in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine14151617.

Summary Table

Group Deaths (estimate) Wounded (estimate) Missing Civilian Deaths
Russian Forces 226,000 – 327,000 ~730,000 – 1 million ~34,000 N/A
Ukrainian Forces 46,000 – 100,000 Up to 400,000 ~81,700 N/A
Civilians (Ukraine) N/A N/A N/A 13,883 – 13,800+

These figures are based on the latest available reports and should be viewed as minimum estimates, since the actual casualty numbers may be higher due to the fog of war and incomplete reporting 18192021222324.

Q 2: How does it compares to the USSR-Afghanistan conflict?

Compared to the Ukrainian-Russian war, the USSR-Afghanistan conflict saw significantly fewer Soviet military deaths but far greater Afghan civilian casualties and destruction over a decade (1979–1989) 25262728.

Soviet-Afghan War Casualties

  • Soviet military deaths: Around 13,310–15,000 over 10 years 293031.
  • Soviet wounded: About 35,478–53,753 3233.
  • Missing Soviet soldiers: 311–312 3435.
  • Afghan civilians killed: Estimates range from 562,000 up to 2,000,000; most historians cite about 1 million 36373839.
  • Afghan military killed: Between 75,000 and 90,000 (mujahedeen) and about 58,000 pro-communist forces 404142.
  • Total displaced: Over 5 million Afghans became refugees, and 3 million were internally displaced 4344.

Russian-Ukrainian War vs Soviet-Afghan War

Conflict Military Deaths (invader) Military Deaths (defender) Civilian Deaths Total Wounded Duration
Ukrainian-Russian War Russia: 226,000–327,000 Ukraine: 46,000–100,000 Ukraine: 13,800+ Russia: ~1M+ 3 years (2022–2025)
Soviet-Afghan War USSR: 13,310–15,000 Afghan: ~133,000+ total Afghanistan: 562,000–2,000,000 USSR: ~35,000+ 10 years (1979–1989)

Analysis

  • Russian military deaths in Ukraine have already vastly surpassed those of the USSR in Afghanistan, with hundreds of thousands lost in just over three years versus about 15,000 over a decade 454647.
  • Afghan civilian casualties and displacement were far higher than those seen in Ukraine so far, with up to 2 million killed and millions displaced 484950.
  • Ukrainian civilian casualties, while tragic and rising, remain much lower compared to Afghan losses during the Soviet occupation 5152535455.
  • Both conflicts caused immense suffering and population displacement, but the pace and scale of military losses in Ukraine’s defense are historically unprecedented for Russia 56.

These comparisons underscore the greater scale of military death for Russia in Ukraine, and a far more cataclysmic impact on civilians during the Afghanistan conflict 5758596061.

Footnotes

  1. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  2. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  3. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  4. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  5. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  6. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  7. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  8. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  9. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  10. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  11. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  12. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  13. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  14. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  15. Russian attack on Ternopil kills 26 in one of deadliest …↩︎

  16. At least 25 killed in Russian attacks on war-torn Ukraine’s …↩︎

  17. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Nov. 19, 2025↩︎

  18. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  19. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  20. At least 25 killed in Russian attacks on war-torn Ukraine’s …↩︎

  21. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  22. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  23. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  24. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Nov. 19, 2025↩︎

  25. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  26. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  27. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  28. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  29. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  30. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  31. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  32. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  33. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  34. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  35. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  36. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  37. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  38. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  39. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  40. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  41. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  42. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  43. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  44. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  45. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  46. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  47. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  48. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  49. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  50. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  51. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Nov. 19, 2025↩︎

  52. Casualties of Russia in Ukraine - official data↩︎

  53. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  54. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  55. Ukraine civilian war casualties 2025↩︎

  56. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎

  57. Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war↩︎

  58. Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia↩︎

  59. Russia inches ahead in Ukraine as report says …↩︎

  60. Number of civilians killed and injured in Ukraine reaches three …↩︎

  61. Civilian deaths in Ukraine surge past last year’s toll as winter …↩︎