Russia's war casualties exceed 2 million, study estimates
Russia has recorded more than 450,000 deaths due to the war in Ukraine, according to a new study. The survey also estimated that the total number of casualties from the war exceeded 2 million, according to a new study.
CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) research estimates that Russia suffered 1.4 million casualties - including dead, wounded and missing soldiers - which is equivalent to approximately 1% of the country's population.
Losses are not evenly distributed across Russia; poorer areas and ethnic minorities suffer significantly higher casualty rates.
There are increasing reports of male populations of small, remote villages being virtually decimated in Russian opposition media.
Furthermore, according to the study, Russia is currently unable to recruit new troops at the same rate as it is losing them.
"These rates are staggering," said study authors Seth G. Jones and Riley McCabe.
"Russian deaths in Ukraine are more than four times the total US deaths in all wars combined since World War II, and more than nine times the total Soviet and Russian deaths in all wars combined since World War II," they added.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is estimated to have suffered between 525,000 and 625,000 casualties, including a death toll of between 125,000 and 150,000.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine release official casualty data, but the latest CSIS figures are in line with Western estimates.
War is more costly for Russia, study says
Jones and McCabe stated that, in terms of casualties, the war is becoming much more costly for Russia than for Ukraine.
They pointed out that the casualty rate likely rose to almost eight to one in the first half of this year, meaning that for every Ukrainian soldier killed, wounded or missing, there are eight Russian casualties.
For much of the conflict, the ratio was between two and three Russian casualties for every Ukrainian casualty.
Jones and McCabe said the recent increase is due to the Ukrainian government's advances in its drone program, especially its ability to significantly enlarge the "kill zone" - the area around the front lines so saturated with drones that it makes it nearly impossible for Russian troops to enter.
"Ukraine's defense-in-depth strategy has been effective in killing and injuring Russian soldiers, as well as limiting Russia's ability to maneuver," the experts said.
However, they pointed to other reasons for the heavy Russian losses, including "Russia's strategy of attrition, failure to conduct combined arms operations and joint warfare effectively, poor tactics and training, corruption, and low morale."
Whatever the reasons, the data reveals a terrifying scenario: with a total of 2 million casualties, the war in Ukraine has probably already surpassed the Battle of Stalingrad, widely considered the bloodiest conflict in history.
*CNN's Anna Chernova contributed to this report
Demographic catastrophe: Ukraine is becoming a nation of widows and orphans
Demographic catastrophe: Ukraine is becoming a nation of widows and orphans
Source: CNN