Nearly half a million Russians killed in Ukraine war, UK spy chief says
The head of the British spy agency GCHQ estimates that nearly half a million Russian soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine war since its inception over four years ago. This figure surpasses previous estimates and indicates a significant shift in the battlefield dynamics, with Russian forces reportedly losing ground. The high casualty rates are attributed to ongoing attempts by Russia to capture the eastern Donbas region, while Ukraine aims to outpace Russian recruitment efforts.
- ▪Anne Keast-Butler, the chief of GCHQ, stated that Russian forces are 'going backwards on the battlefield' for the first time since late 2022.
- ▪The new estimate of Russian casualties is nearly half a million, significantly higher than previous estimates of 352,000.
- ▪Russian casualties are estimated to be around 30,000 a month, with 15,000 to 20,000 of those being killed.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/27/nearly-half-a-million-russians-killed-in-ukraine-war-uk-spy-chief-says |
| Publication time | Wed, 27 May 2026 17:09:41 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-27T17:23:02.360Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-27T17:23:02.360Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The remains of four killed Russian soldiers lie in a field in Donbas after being identified by members of the Ukrainian NGO Platzdarm in September last year. Photograph: Ximena Borrazás/The GuardianView image in fullscreenThe remains of four killed Russian soldiers lie in a field in Donbas after being identified by members of the Ukrainian NGO Platzdarm in September last year. Photograph: Ximena Borrazás/The GuardianRussiaNearly half a million Russians killed in Ukraine war, UK spy chief saysAnne Keast-Butler says Russian forces are ‘going backwards on the battlefield’ for first time since late 2022Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editorWed 27 May 2026 13.09 EDTLast modified on Wed 27 May 2026 13.12 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleNearly half a million Russian soldiers have been…
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