The Economist: Russia loses 1 percent of population for just 1.45 percent of Ukraine

Three years into its full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has managed to occupy just 1.45 percent of Ukrainian territory while suffering massive personnel losses, according to the London-based weekly magazine The Economist.

The publication estimates that the war may have claimed the lives of roughly 1 percent of Russia’s pre-war working-age male population.

Based on open-source data, eyewitness accounts, and analytical reports, The Economist estimates total Russian military casualties since Feb. 24, 2022 when the full-blown invasion started, at 1-1.35 million troops, including both killed and wounded. This exceeds the combined U.S. military combat losses during World War II.

Meanwhile, the pace of Russia’s territorial occupation remains extremely slow. 

In 2025, Russia captured 4,562 square kilometers, compared to 3,734 in 2024. 

November was the year’s most “successful” month, with around 690 square kilometers gained. Yet overall progress remains minimal. Since autumn 2022, Russia has conquered only an additional 1.45 percent of Ukraine’s territory.

“No major city has changed hands. Russia tried to fully capture Pokrovsk, which had a pre-war population of 61,000 and ranked only 73rd among Ukraine’s cities, for 14 months. Even now, the city is not completely under Russian control,” The Economist reports.

To take control of the remaining parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, Russia would need to occupy over 20,000 square kilometers more. At the current pace, this could take until at least May 2028, while army losses are expected to remain staggering.