Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in more than two million military casualties, with Moscow's forces suffering the majority of losses, according to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The American thinktank estimates that between 400,000 and 450,000 Russian troops have been killed out of a total of 1.4 million casualties, which include those killed, wounded or missing. Ukrainian forces have suffered between 125,000 and 150,000 fatalities out of between 525,000 and 625,000 casualties over the same period.
CSIS noted that Russian fatalities in Ukraine are more than four times greater than all US fatalities in all wars combined since World War Two. The ratio of Russian to Ukrainian casualties has likely risen to about eight to one in the first half of this year.
In a separate development, Russia launched an intense missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more. The strikes hit residential buildings and triggered a fire at a hotel on a central boulevard. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the first to sixth floors of an apartment building collapsed after a direct hit, and urged residents to remain in shelters. Russia's defence ministry said the attack was in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civil infrastructure.
Russia has begun seaborne imports of petrol from India to mitigate nationwide fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure, according to industry sources cited by Reuters. At least 60,000 metric tons of gasoline have been sent from India to Russia, with two tankers carrying 30,000 to 40,000 tons each. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv's forces struck Russia's Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week.
German prosecutors have charged a suspect in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The suspect, a Ukrainian national, is alleged to have led the team that carried out the operation. He was arrested in Italy in summer 2025 and extradited to Germany. Zelenskyy has denied any government involvement in the pipeline explosions.
Ukraine has introduced a new framework allowing arms manufacturers to export products and components, with a percentage of revenues channelled into a state defence fund. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said 20% of proceeds from finished defence goods and 30% from components would be levied. Manufacturers must prove their capability to fulfil both Ukrainian defence orders and export contracts.
