At least 7,000 Russian soldiers have likely been killed in the first month of combat during the Kremlin-ordered invasion of Ukraine, Nato officials said, and the total number could be as high as 15,000.
The figures are based on a combination of Ukrainian estimates, Russian disclosures, Western intelligence and open-source information.
The number of wounded is likely much higher, the officials said, noting that for each soldier killed in combat, there are usually three more wounded. That could put the total of dead, captured or injured Russian soldiers between 30,000 and 40,000.
But information about the status of Russia’s forces in Ukraine has been sparse, which means the actual toll is unknown. Russia’s advances have been largely stalled in recent days, as the war has shifted into a more grinding phase.
Nato leaders, including United States President Joe Biden, are meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to deter further Russian aggression and bolster the eastern flank.
