The average number of estimated Russian casualties in February was approximately 983 per day, marking an all-time high since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its March 3 update.
The update appears to be citing the UK Defense Ministry's own estimation of Russian losses.
The increase in casualties "almost certainly" reflects Russia's "commitment to mass and attritional warfare," according to the ministry.
"Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraine's positions across the front line."
A graph presented by the U.K. Defense Ministry of average daily losses for the Russian military indicates that casualty numbers have only risen since the start of the full-scale invasion. The highest number of average daily losses in 2022 was 559 in November.
The number steadily rose in 2023, with the highest number of average daily losses being 967 in December. The Russian offensive on Avdiivka began in October 2023, which is likely the cause for increased casualty numbers at the end of 2023.
The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that over 355,000 Russian servicemembers have been killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian government publicly estimates it at 416,800.
The Russian government has not released any data on the losses of its servicemembers. Estimates differ depending on the source.
According to the March 3 update from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russian casualty numbers stand at around 416,800.
Independent Russian media have attempted to investigate Russian casualties further. In late February, Meduza and Mediazona reported that two years of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine had resulted in the deaths of an estimated 83,000 Russian soldiers.
Kateryna Hodunova
