'Unprecedented' casualties for Russian troops

The number of Russian troops who have died in the first year of the war in Ukraine has surpassed that of all Russian wars since World War II, a new study says. 

Hi, it's Julius with an update on Ukraine. 

An analysis by the Center for Strategic International Studies estimates that 60,000 to 70,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since the Kremlin invaded in February 2022.

Russia has suffered roughly 200,000 to 250,000 casualties – personnel killed, wounded or missing – in that span, the analysis says.

In comparison, Russia had 13,000 to 25,000 fatalities during wars in Chechnya from 1994-2009, and 14,000 to 16,000 in Afghanistan from 1979-89.

"Some types of authoritarian regimes are willing to accept high casualties in interstate conflicts, but Russian casualty numbers are unprecedented for post-World War II Russia," the analysis says.

The Ukrainian military has also performed "remarkably well" against a much larger and initially better-equipped Russian military, in part due to the innovation of its forces, the analysis says. It adds that Russian President Vladimir Putin has thus far been willing to accept large numbers of Russian fatalities with limited political repercussions, "but it is unclear that he will be able to do so forever."

More on the Ukraine-Russia crisis

• Putin calls for border control: After a flurry of drone attacks targeted regions inside Russia, President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to tighten control of the Ukraine border.
• Civilian deaths in Ukraine: At least four civilians were killed and five wounded by renewed Russian shelling in the southern city of Kherson and surrounding villages, Ukraine authorities said Tuesday.