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Russia Sacrifices 1 Million Soldiers to Wear Down Ukrainian Defenses, UK Intelligence Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia’s battlefield strategy is centered on wearing down Ukrainian defenses through relentless mass assaults, rather than securing swift strategic breakthroughs, according to British defense intelligence.
This approach—based on sustained pressure and numerical advantage—is designed to exploit local vulnerabilities and gradually push Ukrainian forces back.
Despite suffering approximately one million casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, including an estimated 250,000 soldiers killed or presumed dead, Moscow continues to prioritize attritional tactics.
Intelligence reports suggest that up to 500,000 of these losses are irreversible, encompassing deaths, missing personnel, and severe injuries.
The UK’s Ministry of Defense notes that Russia’s goal is not rapid territorial gains, but the gradual erosion of Ukrainian positions through constant pressure.
This has resulted in over 200,000 Russian casualties already in 2025, with daily losses currently exceeding 1,250 troops, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
The consequence of this high-intensity approach is a severely strained Russian military medical system, struggling to handle the volume of wounded personnel.
Persistent shortages in medical staff and logistical bottlenecks further complicate the situation.
Nevertheless, British intelligence assesses that Russia’s leadership is prepared to absorb these losses as long as they do not provoke widespread dissent or elite resistance.
As long as replacements remain available, Moscow appears committed to advancing through manpower attrition rather than technological superiority or maneuver warfare.
Earlier, independent analysts from Oryx confirmed that Russia has lost over 4,000 tanks in Ukraine based on verified photo and video evidence. The total includes destroyed, abandoned, and captured vehicles, though the actual number is likely higher. Since 2022, Oryx has visually documented more than 21,500 pieces of Russian military equipment lost in the war.
