Casualties in Ukraine Conflict Rise Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting
Upcoming Meeting Between Trump and Putin
In just two days, on August 15, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. This will mark their first encounter since Trump assumed the presidency for a second term. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of 121,507 Russian soldiers.
Verification of Casualty Figures
The independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian Service, has confirmed these casualty figures. The latest report covers the period from February 24, 2022, to July 31, 2025. Since the last update in early July, an additional 2,353 Russian soldiers have been reported killed.
Methodology Behind the Report
The report suggests that the actual number of casualties could be significantly higher, as the data is derived from publicly available information such as obituaries in newspapers, social media posts from relatives, memorial trees, local media reports, and statements from local authorities. Both Moscow and Kyiv have been reluctant to release official figures regarding their losses. Ukraine estimates that total Russian casualties have exceeded one million.
Key Findings of the Report
Among the deceased are 33,100 volunteers, 18,000 prisoners recruited from jails, and 13,300 conscripted soldiers. Additionally, over 5,400 officers have also lost their lives. According to Ukraine's Prisoner of War Affairs Headquarters, by June 12, more than 100,000 Russian families had reached out to Ukrainian authorities seeking information about their missing soldiers. As of August 12, Ukraine's General Staff estimates that Russia has lost 1,065,220 soldiers, a figure that aligns closely with estimates from Western intelligence agencies.
Claims of Losses in July
According to a report from The Kyiv Independent, during a press briefing on August 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia's losses are nearly three times greater than Ukraine's, although he did not disclose Ukraine's own casualty figures. On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a podcast interview that 60,000 Russian soldiers were killed just in July. Conversely, President Trump claimed on August 1 that the number was around 20,000.