Russia's losses in Ukraine: what are US intelligence estimates and how much do they differ from Ukraine's claims?

Reuters reports that according to a source familiar with U.S. intelligence, Russia's military losses during the war with Ukraine have had a significant impact on its military capabilities.

"Moscow's losses in personnel and armored vehicles to Ukraine's military have set back Russia’s military modernization by 18 years, the source said," the article reads.

The Russian embassy did not provide a comment, and the Russian defense ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Russian officials dispute Western estimates of their casualties, asserting that they are exaggerated while claiming significant losses on the Ukrainian side. The source revealed that the U.S. intelligence report, recently declassified, indicated that Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with 360,000 personnel.

Since then, the report states that 315,000 Russian troops, approximately 87% of the initial force, have been killed or injured. These substantial losses have led Russia to relax recruitment standards, declaring a partial mobilization of 300,000 personnel in late 2022 and allowing the enlistment of convicts and older civilians.

The report also noted that Russia started the conflict with 3,100 tanks, losing 2,200 of them. To compensate, Russia has deployed T62 tanks from the 1970s, reducing its current tank force to 1,300. This information sheds light on the challenges Russia is facing in sustaining its military capabilities.

Meanwhile, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation's total combat losses are estimated at about 341,500 personnel and 5682 tanks.