Thus far in 2025, the Russian forces have taken approximately 353,000 casualties.
As the Russian forces are pushing hard to capture Pokrovsk and other Ukrainian fortress towns in the Donbas, their casualties continue to increase.
Russian losses have reached levels unheard of in a European conflict since the end of World War II.
1,140,000 Losses and Counting
According to the latest estimates, the Russian forces have sustained approximately 1,140,000 casualties, including killed and wounded troops, since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. Thus far in 2025, the Russian forces have taken approximately 353,000 casualties.
According to data provided by the Ukrainian General Staff, the average daily Russian casualty rate during October 2025 was 1,008 troops killed and wounded. This marked a slight increase from September, when Russian forces lost an average of 950 troops on a daily basis. Russian casualties are picking up, as this was the second consecutive month with an increase in losses.
It is likely that Russian casualties will not exceed those of last year, when in 12 months of bitter fighting, the Russian military, paramilitary units, and pro-Russian separatist forces suffered approximately 420,000 losses. To match last year’s casualties, the Russian forces would have to sustain around 80,000 losses in November and December. Although not something unheard of in the conflict—during some months, Russian average daily losses exceeded 1,500 troops—it is unlikely the Russian military will pursue an increase in the operational tempo.
Despite some territorial gains, the high Russian casualties do not translate into significant progress on the ground.
The Road to Pokrovsk is Strewn with Casualties
The primary reason behind the recent increase in the losses of the Russian forces is the push to capture Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian town is located in the Donbas and consists of a key logistics hub for the Ukrainian military, supporting offensive and defensive operations in the region.
“Russian forces are continuing intensive efforts to envelop Pokrovsk, the key Ukrainian logistics hub which supports operations in the Donbas, sustaining heavy casualties,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence estimate on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian forces have put up a fierce defense, including commando raids, against the attackers, forcing the Russian military to attack from many directions to affect the fall of the Ukrainian town.
“Additionally, pressure continues to be applied to Rodynske, a town supporting the defence of Pokrovsk to its north, and in Myrnohrad, to its east,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed.
“Pokrovsk likely remains Russia’s priority axis with the city continuing to sustain the largest proportion of daily Russian assaults relative to the rest of the frontline,” the British Ministry of Defence concluded in its intelligence estimate.
Pokrovsk is the main focus of Russian assaults for a good reason. Besides the strategic value of the town to the Ukrainian “fortress belt” in the Donbas, Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly demanded the immediate capture of the town, giving his commanders a deadline of mid-November.
Meanwhile, the Russian forces are conducting offensive operations throughout the Donbas. The offensive push to capture Pokrovsk, coupled with sustained offensive operations in the rest of the Donbas and in eastern Ukraine, is taking a heavy toll on the Russian forces.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Kosmogenez / Shutterstock.com
