Ukraine’s military has reported that more than 1,307,540 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war with Russia in February 2022.
The report, released on April 9, 2026, also states that Russia has lost 11,847 tanks, 24,370 armored vehicles, 350 helicopters, and 255,539 drones. Other losses include 33 naval vessels, 88,332 military and fuel transport vehicles, 39,689 air defense systems, and two submarines.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, previously told France TV in February that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war.
In January 2026, data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that Ukraine had recorded between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties between February 2022 and December 2025, with 100,000 to 140,000 confirmed deaths.
War Increasingly Driven by Machines Rather Than Soldiers
Since the war began, traditional ground combat has significantly shifted, with machines and advanced technology playing a more dominant role than human soldiers.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the use of machines has drastically changed warfare.
“In the past six months, robots were mainly used to evacuate the wounded. Now they are also deployed in combat zones to deliver weapons and provide support where humans cannot operate,” he said.
Ground drones are now capable of delivering food, weapons, and medical supplies, as well as evacuating injured soldiers. Some can carry up to three people, functioning similarly to ambulances.
Lieutenant Victor Pavlov of the Ukrainian army noted that ground robots now make up about 90% of their operational equipment.
“It is difficult to move due to aerial drones, so we rely heavily on machines,” he explained.
Ukraine also reported launching over 7,000 ground drone missions since January 2026.
According to Oleksandr, many tasks once performed by soldiers are now handled by machines.
“War has changed. There are many drones in the sky, making rescue operations extremely difficult,” he said.
Russia has also expanded its use of military technology. One example is the “Courier,” an electric ground robot capable of carrying up to 250 kilograms of explosives and equipment across various terrains, including snow.
On April 6, 2026, Russia unveiled a new ground drone called “Bagulnik-82,” equipped with a robotic arm capable of launching explosives up to four kilometers. It is designed for use in high-risk zones where soldiers would face significant danger, especially under enemy air attacks.
