British intelligence: Prosthetic demand spikes 50% across Russia
Photo: Russian citizens lose arms and legs in the war (rosmedia)
According to open sources, the number of prosthetics issued in Russia has significantly increased, with hand amputations being particularly common, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
As noted in the update, data from Russia's Ministry of Labor shows that in 2024, around 152,500 artificial limbs were provided to people with disabilities - a 53% increase compared to 2023.
In particular, the number of arm prosthetics issued rose by 75%. The number of wheelchairs distributed also grew by 18% over the same period.
The independent Russian outlet Verstka previously reported that wounded Russian soldiers with amputated limbs were often forced to wait long periods for necessary prosthetics.
According to British intelligence, Russia is failing to provide adequate medical care on the front lines, which in turn is leading to a growing number of severe and long-term injuries among Russian servicemen.
"The significant rise in the numbers of Russian men with disabilities, as well as wounded personnel more broadly, will almost certainly have a detrimental long-term impact on both medical and social services in Russia," the UK Ministry of Defense emphasized.
A million killed and wounded
Russia's army has suffered 1 million killed and wounded since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to British intelligence, irreversible combat losses, including those killed, missing, or severely wounded, are currently estimated between 400,000 and 500,000.
Meanwhile, a May 2025 poll by the Levada Center shows that 80% of Russians still support the war, the same level recorded in March 2022 and February 2025. At the same time, the share of respondents opposing the war has dropped to a record low of 13%.
