Gallery|Russia-Ukraine warIn Pictures: Four years of Ukraine warUN says more than 15,000 civilians and 763 children have died, highlighting the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began four years ago, has resulted in Europe's largest conflict since World War II, leading to significant civilian suffering and military losses. This has also caused a fundamental shift in post-Cold War security…
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began four years ago, has resulted in Europe's largest conflict since World War II, leading to significant civilian suffering and military losses. This has also caused a fundamental shift in post-Cold War security dynamics.
The conflict has entered its fifth year with no resolution in sight. Military casualties have reached substantial levels.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates Russian casualties at approximately 1.2 million, including up to 325,000 soldier deaths from February 2022 to December 2025. Russia last reported battlefield deaths in January 2023, acknowledging over 80 losses in a Ukrainian attack, bringing the official count to over 6,000. CSIS estimates Ukrainian military casualties between 500,000 and 600,000, with up to 140,000 deaths. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported 55,000 Ukrainian soldier deaths, with more missing.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission confirms over 15,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine since the invasion's onset, identifying this as likely an underestimate. More than 40,600 civilians have been injured.
This has also caused a fundamental shift in post-Cold War security dynamics.
At least 763 children have died in the conflict, based on UN data. The year 2025 marked the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since 2022, with 2,514 deaths and 12,142 injuries, representing a 31% increase compared to 2024.
Displacement and Infrastructure Damage
Approximately 5.3 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Europe, with another 3.7 million internally displaced within Ukraine. The pre-war population exceeded 40 million. Significant urban destruction has occurred in cities such as Bakhmut, Toretsk, and Vovchansk. The World Health Organization reports over 2,800 attacks on healthcare facilities since 2022. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have left millions without heat and power.
One-fifth of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with mines or unexploded ordnance. The World Bank projects reconstruction costs for Ukraine to reach $588 billion over the next decade.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
