Russia 'loses one soldier every 49 seconds' in bloodiest day of the war for Vladimir Putin

Russia is losing soldiers at a rate of one every 49 seconds, Ukraine’s defence ministry has claimed, offering a stark illustration of the staggering human cost of Vladimir Putin’s war.

Defense of Ukraine made the unverified claim as it highlighted the 1,770 Russian soldiers it claims were killed on Sunday.

Sharing the figures via X, it added: “It’s the highest daily number since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

“Every 49 seconds, Russia lost one soldier.

“We make the occupiers pay the highest price for their brutal invasion.”

The daily figure for yesterday is even higher – 1,950, according to Defense of Ukraine.

In total, alleged personnel losses add up to 712,610, plus large quantities of military equipment including 9,276 tanks, 18,847 armoured fighting vehicles and 20,352 artillery systems.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its military losses have been significant in terms of personnel, equipment, and public morale.

Although precise numbers are hard to verify, estimates by Western sources suggest that tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded.

The Ukrainian military, bolstered by NATO-supplied intelligence and advanced weaponry, has managed to inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces, particularly in high-profile battles for cities such as Bakhmut and Kherson.

Ukrainian forces have skilfully used anti-tank missiles, drones, and advanced air defence systems to counter Russia’s historically superior firepower, effectively turning the war into a prolonged battle of attrition that has cost Russia far more than anticipated.

Additionally, the economic impact of the war on Russia has been profound, as Western sanctions and war expenditures have strained the national budget and affected many sectors.

Sanctions targeting major Russian industries – such as oil, natural gas, and finance – have disrupted trade and limited Russia’s ability to acquire advanced technologies, especially semiconductors crucial for military hardware.

Although Russia managed to initially stabilise its economy through trade with countries like China and India, the effects of restricted trade, coupled with high military spending, are becoming more apparent.

Inflation and budget deficits have risen, and the ruble has faced periodic instability, affecting consumer prices and real incomes.

The war has also led to a marked increase in tensions between Russia and NATO, especially as NATO countries continue to supply Ukraine with increasingly sophisticated military equipment.

The United States, United Kingdom, and European allies have provided Ukraine with tanks, missile systems, drones, and recently, high-tech air defence systems like the Patriot missile.

While NATO has avoided direct intervention, its military aid has significantly bolstered Ukraine’s ability to resist and even counter Russian offensives.

This military support has sparked strong rhetoric from the Kremlin, which views the assistance as a direct threat to Russian security and sovereignty.

However, incoming US President Donald Trump has claimed he will end the war “within 24 hours of coming into office”, with many anticipating he will significantly scale back military aid to Ukraine and engage in negotiations with Putin himself.

If he does so, it is likely Volodymyr Zelensky will need to accept the permanent loss of the annexed peninsula Crimea and other territories in the east of his country.