Nearly four years into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has suffered staggering losses, with British military intelligence estimating Tuesday, Nov. 4, that approximately 1.14 million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since 2022.
Naturalnews.com reports: The latest assessment highlights Moscow's relentless but costly push to seize Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in eastern Ukraine, where daily casualty rates exceeded 1,000 in October. While Kyiv denies an imminent encirclement, analysts warn that capturing the city could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with a much-needed battlefield victory—despite the devastating human toll.
Escalating losses amid tactical shifts
According to the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD), Russia’s 2025 casualties alone total 353,000, underscoring the war's intensifying brutality. Daily losses peaked at 1,008 in October, up from 950 in September—marking the second consecutive monthly increase, BrightU.AI's Enoch notes.
However, the three-month average from August to October remained the lowest since April 2024, suggesting Russian forces have adapted tactically to reduce exposure to Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Moscow may be conserving forces for a strategic reserve, anticipating prolonged combat.
The battle for Pokrovsk, a shattered but vital rail and road nexus in Donetsk, has become the focal point of Russia's winter offensive. British intelligence confirmed that Moscow is concentrating its heaviest assaults there, aiming to replicate its February 2024 capture of Avdiivka—a victory that came at the cost of tens of thousands of lives.
Ukrainian officials acknowledge the fighting is "extremely difficult" but deny Russian claims of imminent encirclement.
"Our supply lines remain open and counterattacks are ongoing," a Ukrainian brigade commander stated anonymously to the Wall Street Journal. Still, satellite imagery reveals relentless Russian attempts to sever Ukrainian defenses.
Disputed numbers, undeniable devastation
While casualty figures remain contested, the scale of loss is undeniable. Ukraine's own military reportedly estimates 80,000 killed and 400,000 wounded—a total of 480,000—though Kyiv has not officially confirmed these numbers. Russian state media, meanwhile, has inflated Ukrainian losses to 1.7 million in what Western analysts dismiss as propaganda.
Historical context underscores the war's grim trajectory: Russia's 2022–2025 casualties now exceed the Soviet Union's losses in Afghanistan (1979–1989) by over 400,000. Independent researchers warn that Moscow's reliance on human wave tactics and outdated equipment ensures continued high attrition.
As winter sets in, Russia's pursuit of Pokrovsk exemplifies the war's brutal arithmetic: territorial gains measured in kilometers, paid for in lives. With no diplomatic resolution in sight, analysts predict further escalation—and more names added to the grim tally of 1.1 million and counting.
По материалам: http://www.planet-today.com/2025/11/russias-ukraine-war-toll-surpasses-11.html