Russian battlefield losses drop to lowest level in year, UK intelligence says
Photo: Russian army reduces losses on the frontline (Getty Images)
The Russian army is losing at least 1,000 personnel per day. However, Russia's frontline losses have been declining since the beginning of the year due to a slowdown of the offensive momentum, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
According to the update, as of late May 2025, Russia had sustained approximately 980,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Based on data from Ukraine's General Staff, Russia likely lost around 196,000 personnel during the first five months of 2025.
At the same time, the level of Russian losses this year shows a downward trend: in January 2025, 48,000 casualties were recorded, while in May that number dropped to 34,500 - the lowest monthly figure in a year, reflecting a 28% decrease.
According to British intelligence, the decline in Russian military activity during the early months of 2025 likely reduced casualties.
"Casualty rates will highly likely increase if Russia increases its attacks across the frontline in Ukraine," the UK Ministry of Defense noted.
Previously, British intelligence reported that Vladimir Putin and Russia's military leadership prioritize achieving their wartime goals over the lives of Russian soldiers to avoid negatively impacting public or elite support for the war.
According to the Levada Center, two-thirds of Russian citizens support negotiations rather than continued fighting. However, they want Ukraine to capitulate, believing that Vladimir Putin is winning the war.
