Ukraine Puts Russian Troop Losses at 1,352,070 as Drone Shootdowns Reach 301,072
Updated
Updated · Defense Express · May 20
Ukraine Puts Russian Troop Losses at 1,352,070 as Drone Shootdowns Reach 301,072
8 articles · Updated · Defense Express · May 20
Ukraine’s General Staff said total Russian personnel losses since the February 2022 invasion reached 1,352,070, up 920 in the latest daily update.
The new tally also put Russian equipment losses at 11,943 tanks, 42,400 artillery systems and 97,868 vehicles and fuel tanks, with daily increases of 3, 60 and 268 respectively.
Drone attrition remained a standout category: Ukraine reported 301,072 operational-tactical UAVs destroyed, up 1,873 from the previous count, alongside 1,388 air-defense systems and 1,795 MLRS lost.
The figures, published on day 1,547 of the war, are part of Ukraine’s running battlefield assessment of Russian losses on land, in the air and at sea.
With casualties outpacing recruitment, how is Russia's military avoiding a complete collapse on the battlefield?
As a US peace deal looms, what is Russia's ultimate endgame after five years of devastating losses in Ukraine?
Can Russia's 'deathonomics' war economy survive, or is it pushing the country toward an inevitable implosion?
Attrition Unprecedented: Russian Military Losses Surpass 1.35 Million in Ukraine as of May 2026
Overview
As of May 2026, Russian forces in Ukraine are suffering heavy losses in both personnel and equipment. On May 19 alone, Russia lost 920 soldiers, 60 artillery systems, and 1,873 drones. These daily losses contribute to a staggering total of nearly 1,350,010 personnel lost since the war began, with 1,220 added just the day before. The strain is so severe that Russia’s prison population has dropped by about 183,000, partly due to recruiting inmates for the war. Equipment losses are also massive, with nearly 12,000 tanks destroyed. This relentless attrition is reshaping the conflict’s dynamics and Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort.