Fact Check: Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties in Ukraine.

Fact Check: "Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties in Ukraine."

What We Know

Recent reports indicate that Russia's military casualties in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have indeed surpassed the 1 million mark. A study published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that nearly 1 million Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the invasion began in February 2022. This figure aligns with claims made by the Ukrainian military, which also reported that Russian casualties have exceeded 1 million, including approximately 250,000 killed (AP News).

The CSIS report highlights that the overall casualty figure, which includes both Russian and Ukrainian forces, approaches 1.4 million, with Ukrainian casualties estimated at around 400,000 (CSIS). The difficulty in accurately estimating these numbers is acknowledged, as both Russia and Ukraine have been criticized for underreporting their military losses (CSIS).

Analysis

The claim that Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties is supported by multiple credible sources, including military analysts and government estimates from the U.S. and U.K. The U.K. Defense Ministry corroborated the figure, stating that Russia's military losses have indeed surpassed 1 million, which includes roughly 250,000 killed since the full-scale invasion began.

However, it is important to consider the reliability of the sources. The CSIS report, which is a reputable think tank, bases its estimates on a combination of American and British intelligence assessments, making it a credible source for military analysis (CSIS). The Ukrainian military's claims, while consistent with Western intelligence estimates, may carry a degree of bias, as they are motivated to portray the conflict in a way that emphasizes Russian losses.

Despite these potential biases, the convergence of estimates from various independent sources, including the CNN and Newsweek reports, strengthens the validity of the claim. The reported figures reflect a significant human cost for Russia in this conflict, which has been described as one of the most costly in terms of military casualties since World War II.

Conclusion

The claim that "Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties in Ukraine" is True. This conclusion is based on corroborating evidence from multiple reputable sources, including military studies and government reports, which indicate that Russian military casualties have indeed exceeded 1 million, encompassing both killed and wounded personnel.

Fact Check: Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties in Ukraine.