According to The New York Times, an average of 1,000 Russian troops a day were killed or wounded in Ukraine in May due to head-on attacks on Ukrainian defenses. UK military intelligence reported a casualty rate of 1,200 a day in May, the highest since the start of the war. The total number of killed or wounded Russian troops since the invasion began in February 2022 is estimated to be around 500,000, though it is unclear how many were killed versus wounded.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in June that the total number of killed or wounded Russian troops was around 350,000. The increase in casualties in May occurred as Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Kharkiv region in northern Ukraine. Russia has been sending troops into high-casualty head-on attacks, also known as human wave or “meat grinder” attacks. While these tactics were successful in the past, they are proving less effective now.
Even though Russia has been able to replenish its troop numbers by recruiting around 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers a month, Ukraine has been struggling to find new recruits. The Ukrainian government reported in February that 31,000 of its troops have been killed since the start of the war, though Western intelligence officials believe the number is likely much higher.
To replace its losses, Russia has offered lucrative contracts to new recruits, drafted thousands of prisoners into the military, and employed foreign mercenaries. While Russia drafted 300,000 civilians into the military in September 2022, US officials believe that another draft is unlikely to be necessary in the near future.