The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington estimates Russian military dead and wounded to number 1.2 million, of whom 325,000 were killed. The same study estimates Ukrainian military casualties at 600,000, of whom 140,000 killed. In Operation Spiderweb last June, Ukraine destroyed $10 billion worth of Russian military aircraft with just $100,000 worth of drones. “Ukrainians no longer believe in security guarantees, that it will work out, that anyone will defend them. Ukrainians believe only in the weapons they hold in their hands.”

Source: The Irish Times February 24, 2026 10:32 UTC