Nearly half a million Russian soldiers have been killed since start of war with Ukraine — UK spy chief

The head of a top British intelligence agency says that nearly half a million Russian soldiers have been killed since Moscow’s war-launching invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Anne Keast-Butler offers the estimate in her inaugural remarks as head of the GCHQ.

Russia and Ukraine have periodically published death tolls of the other side, while largely refraining from offering similar figures on their own side.

In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had lost 55,000 soldiers since the start of the war.

The BBC has confirmed the deaths of 223,539 Russian soldiers, while estimating that the total number is 45 to 65 percent higher.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.