Ukraine War Casualties Reach 1.8 Million After Four Years

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Four years later, combined Russian and Ukrainian losses are reported to be as high as 1.8 million.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimates that Ukrainian forces suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties from February 2022 through December 2025. This includes killed, wounded, and missing personnel. Of this number, an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 were fatalities.

Russian military casualties are estimated at approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million over the same period. This would place Russian losses at roughly two to two-and-a-half times those of Ukraine.

CSIS attributes higher Russian casualty figures to several factors, including its poor combined arms coordination, inadequate training, low morale, and Ukraine’s effective defensive strategy.

Civilian Casualties

Civilian casualties in Ukraine reached 15,172 deaths and 41,378 injuries between February 2022 and early 2026, according to United Nations monitoring.

2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the initial weeks of the invasion in 2022. At least 157 civilians were killed, and 888 were injured in December 2025 alone. This shows a 66% increase compared to December 2024.

Civilian harm has been recorded across 26 of Ukraine’s 27 regions under government control. Luhansk remains almost entirely under Russian occupation and is not fully accessible to UN monitoring. Long-range missile and drone strikes contributed to higher civilian casualties in 2025, while landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to cause injuries and deaths.

Territorial Situation

Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, or roughly 120,000 km². This includes Crimea and parts of the Donbas region that were already under Russian control before 2022.

Since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has gained an additional 75,000 km², or about 12% of Ukraine’s total land area. This figure reflects net gains after Ukrainian counteroffensives reversed some of Russia’s early advances.

Despite sustained offensives in 2024 and 2025, Russian advances averaged 15-70 meters per day. CSIS describes this as historically slow compared to past large-scale wars.

In January 2026, Russian forces captured only 245 km². That is roughly half the area seized in December or November 2025. Attack activity fell by 4% from late 2025 levels, marking the slowest monthly pace since March 2025.

What Comes Next

Peace negotiations remain stalled despite intensified diplomatic contacts in early 2026 following U.S. policy shifts under President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.

The United States has reduced direct military support, increasing pressure on European allies to sustain funding. In 2025, EU aid rose by 67% with €90B loans approved for 2026-27. Ukraine’s 2025 defense budget hit $71 billion, largely supported by international partners.

Bilateral Support to Ukraine Reached €342 Billion ->

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If current attrition levels continue, CSIS projects that combined military casualties could reach 2 million by spring 2026.

Four years into the war, casualty figures, territorial changes, and continued mobilisation indicate that the conflict remains active, with no immediate resolution in sight.