Putin's War: 2 Million Casualties and Growing

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.
• Civilian casualties reflect the brutality of modern warfare: the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission recorded at least 14,999 civilian deaths and over 40,600 injuries in Ukraine alone since 2022, with the real toll believed to be higher.
• Among these civilian victims were at least 763 children, with 2025 being the deadliest year for non-combatants since the invasion began.

Taken together, a conservative aggregated count of dead and wounded on both sides approaches or exceeds two million — a sobering testament to the scale of destruction.

Despite international diplomatic efforts, including multiple summits, no lasting ceasefire has been agreed upon.

In August 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Putin in Alaska in a highly anticipated summit aimed at ending the war.

The talks ended without a ceasefire deal, and subsequent reporting indicated that Moscow's conditions — such as territorial concessions and recognition of annexations — were unacceptable to Ukraine and its Western partners.

Russia also steadfastly insisted that Ukraine not be given real security guarantees from the U.S., NATO, or major European nations.

Since that summit, Russia has escalated its offensive operations, launching sustained drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and other civilian targets.

In the past week, for example, Russia launched a massive barrage of drones and missiles targeting energy grids and residential areas across multiple Ukrainian regions, killing and wounding civilians and underscoring the continued volatility of the conflict.

Ukraine — increasingly frustrated with stalled dialogue — has responded with deeper strikes into Russian territory, including attacks on key military and industrial sites to degrade Moscow's capacity to wage war.

War crimes

Human rights organizations, U.N. monitors, and independent researchers have documented repeated violations of international humanitarian law:

• Russian forces have been accused of targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, power grids, and residential neighborhoods — acts that violate the Geneva Conventions.
• Incidents such as the Sumy airstrike in April 2025, which killed 35 civilians (including children) and wounded 129, illustrate the indiscriminate nature of some attacks.
• Formal war crimes charges and ICC arrest warrants have been issued against Putin and senior Russian officials for unlawful deportation of children and other offenses, further highlighting the legal gravity of actions taken during the conflict.

Experts widely characterize these attacks — especially those on civilians and non-military infrastructure — as violations of established military conduct norms and, in many cases, war crimes.

Analysts warn that without increased U.S. and allied support, the war risks becoming a protracted stalemate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and many Western security experts argue that Russia will continue its offensive unless weakened militarily and diplomatically, urging the U.S. to provide sustained defensive aid and diplomatic leadership.

Recent commentary points to a dangerous widening of the conflict's geopolitical implications.

Zelenskyy has described Putin's actions not just as regional aggression but as a catalyst for broader instability akin to a Third World War, urging stronger guarantees from the U.S. and NATO against further escalation.

As the fourth anniversary of this senseless conflict arrives, Putin's initial gamble — premised on quick victory and fractured Western resolve — has utterly failed.

What remains is a deadly stalemate that continues to consume lives, devastate cities, and reshape European security.

The world watches, hoping that stronger international unity and resolve, led by the U.S. and its allies, can still help Ukraine secure a just peace — one that ends the bloodshed and holds aggressors accountable.