Russia's September Losses More Than 50,000, 10 Times More Than Ukraine's

At the beginning of this year, the Ukrainian high command set a goal of inflicting 50,000 casualties a month on Russian forces. 

After creeping ever closer over the course of the spring and summer even as casualties surpassed the Kremlin's ability to recruit new cannon fodder - above 40,000 for most of the year to date, then 43,000 in July and 46,000 in August - the Ukrainians reached their goal last month, when the September tally of dead and seriously wounded crossed the 50,000 mark. And that figure was ten times more than Ukrainian casualties for the same period. This does not mean that the war will necessarily end soon, but it demonstrates that Ukraine's implacably relentless ability to set goals and achieve them, while degrading the Russian's ability to wage war effectively. JL 

Taisiia Vidvych reports in Euromaidan Press:

Russian casualties passed 50,000 in September, up to 28,000 of them killed, vastly more casualties than Ukraine in September. Ukraine’s losses over the same month came to 5,000. Russia’s July losses were 43,000 killed and wounded. In August, they were 46,000. To push forward, Russia keeps feeding troops into “kill zones.” These are stretches of ground saturated with armed drones, mines, and artillery fire. September’s toll lands on a recruitment system that was already falling short. Russian losses (had already) outrun new contracts in June and July, when monthly losses ran lower. Russia’s defense spending is expected to near $199 billion this year. That is about 40% above the plan the government set in late 2025.

Russia suffered vastly more casualties than Ukraine in September, a senior NATO military official told Bloomberg. Ukraine’s General Staff put the month’s Russian toll only slightly lower.

September’s toll lands on a recruitment system that was already falling short. Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) estimated that Russian losses outran new contracts in June and July, when monthly losses ran lower. In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing military intelligence, warned that Russia is preparing a mass call-up after its parliamentary elections. That vote ended on 20 September.

Where the numbers come from

Russian casualties passed 50,000 in September, up to 28,000 of them killed, the official said. Ukraine’s losses over the same month came to about 5,000, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Russia does not release casualty figures, Bloomberg noted. In late August, Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, put Russia’s July losses at 43,000 killed and wounded. Bloomberg could not confirm his figures.

To push forward, Russia keeps feeding troops into “kill zones,” the official said. These are stretches of ground saturated with armed drones, mines, and artillery fire. Maksym, call sign Rumyn, is a deputy company commander in the 46th Airmobile Brigade’s drone battalion. In April, he said the zone once ran 3–5 km deep and is now several times larger. 

Rising stakes for Moscow

Russia’s defense spending is expected to near $199 billion this year, Bloomberg reported, citing two sources close to the government. That is about 40% above the plan the government set in late 2025.

Russian President Vladimir Putin would struggle to wind down the invasion without a political cost, Martin Jäger said last week. He heads Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND).