'Meat machine' for foreigners: Russia struggles to conceal huge battlefield losses
Russian troop losses rise due to drone strikes (photo: Getty Images)
The Russian army is increasingly dependent on foreign fighters in its war against Ukraine, as Russia suffers more personnel losses than it can replace, according to UK Defense Secretary John Healey.
Read also: Russia's losses surpass those of every war since World War II
He noted that Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov informed his European counterparts this week that Kyiv has inflicted more losses on Russia over the past two months than Moscow has been able to replace.
Healey says this forces the Russian army to rely heavily on thousands of foreign fighters, including recruits from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Cuba, Nigeria, and Senegal.
"They are often recruited under false pretenses and press-ganged under pressure without necessarily realizing that they're destined for the Russian meat machine on the front line of Ukraine," the UK defense chief said.
He estimated that around 17,000 North Korean soldiers are currently participating in combat on Russia's side.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that in January, Russia suffered approximately 9,000 more frontline losses than it could replenish.
Russian losses and casualties
Western officials estimate that in 2025, Russia likely suffered around 415,000 casualties (killed and wounded), slightly below 430,000 in 2022.
In December alone, the daily casualty rate reached 1,130, totaling roughly 35,000 for the month. Higher losses are attributed in part to the increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian drone operations.
Can Russia continue the war — and what could stop it?
Western officials believe Russia is likely capable of maintaining combat operations in Ukraine throughout 2026.
It can maintain it thanks to recruitment campaigns, industrial production, and support from other countries, including China.
Last week, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told journalists that expanded drone usage has extended the combat zone along the front by 15–20 kilometers.
According to John Healey, in some areas of the front, Russian casualties have increased from roughly six to 25 for every Ukrainian loss.
Western officials say this trend—amplified by the supply of more drones to Ukraine—is a key factor increasing pressure on Russia's campaign.
Despite Russia reportedly exceeding recruitment goals, Ukraine says the size of Russian forces on the battlefield has remained largely unchanged for six months, at approximately 712,000 troops.
"Putin likes to give the impression that they're making relentless and inevitable progress but he's weaker than he's been and more reliant than he's been on foreign fighters," Healey concluded.
Other estimates
A senior NATO official recently stated that Russia has lost around 1.3 million soldiers (killed and wounded) since the start of the full-scale war, even more than reported by the Ukrainian General Staff.
Financial Times recently reported that the sharp increase in Russian army losses is making it increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to execute its offensive plans.
