Feb. 24 marks the fourth anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that was supposed to last days but has instead become one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War II.
From the outset, Putin’s decision to launch this unprovoked aggression against a sovereign neighboring country shattered international norms and has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, wounded millions, and devastated Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure.
Accurately counting casualties in a grinding conflict that neither side fully discloses is impossible.
Independent estimates, however, convey staggering human loss:
Military casualties (killed, wounded, or missing) on both sides are estimated to be as high as 1.8 million total, with Russia suffering roughly 1.2 million casualties — including up to 325,000 troop deaths — and Ukraine enduring around 500,000–600,000 casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths.
Ukrainian official figures suggest 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the conflict, with many more missing or wounded.
