Two million casualties and five million refugees: four years of war in Ukraine in numbers

BarcelonaFor 1,461 days, Europe has been experiencing a large-scale armed conflict that, for now, Despite the peace talks, it seems far from being resolved.In those 48 months, the lives of thousands of citizens have been disrupted. Personal stories help us understand the human side of the conflict and its consequences, but in the cold, hard facts we also find some interesting explanations that help us grasp the magnitude of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

As we mark four years since the Russian invasion, we've compiled 12 figures that illustrate the current state of a war that, in some respects, already rivals the records of the major armed conflicts since World War II, conflicts in which technological advancements in methods have been observed.

15,172 civilians killed

Since the start of the Russian invasion, more than 15,000 civilians have lost their lives, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). 87% of the deaths occurred in areas under Kyiv's control, and the conflict has also left more than 41,000 wounded.

1.8 million military casualties

The war in Ukraine is already one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II, with figures similar to the Vietnam War and the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. The number of military casualties includes deaths, injuries, missing persons, and captures from both sides.

140,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), between February 2022—when Russia attacked Ukraine—and December 2025, between 100,000 and 140,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died on the front lines. In total, Kyiv has suffered 600,000 casualties.

325,000 Russian soldiers killed

The CSIS report also includes deaths among Moscow's ranks. In this case, the total number of soldiers who have lost their lives is between 275,000 and 325,000. When the study was published at the end of January, the authors already pointed out that the figures "suggest that Russia is hardly winning."

30,000 Russians enlist in the army every month

Although Russian military casualties number in the thousands each month, they are offset by the large number of citizens who enlist. Some investigations have pointed to pressure to enlist, but many citizens also do so voluntarily.

20% of Ukrainian territory is under Russian control

Moscow currently controls the Crimean Peninsula and large parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, all in eastern Ukraine. In total, this area covers more than 100,000 km². Within this region are areas rich in rare earth elements and Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

25 years, the minimum recruitment age in Ukraine

Faced with a shortage of soldiers in the Ukrainian army, Zelensky's government tightened martial law in April 2024: it lowered the minimum recruitment age from 27 to 25, intensified mobilization campaigns across the country, and strengthened border controls to prevent desertion.

5.5 million Ukrainian refugees

By the end of 2025, the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv has left between 5.3 and 5.7 million Ukrainian refugees. Of these, almost all (5.2 million) have gone to other parts of Europe, according to data from UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

80% of the deaths are now caused by drones

According to Army Technology, drones are responsible for between 70% and 80% of daily casualties on the Ukrainian fronts. For the first time since World War I, a non-artillery weapon system has become the leading cause of combat casualties.

$30 billion: the value of the drone market is on the rise

The global market for military drones was valued at approximately $15 billion last year—with the United States leading the way—and is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2030, according to several specialized reports. Major countries are vying for leadership in the sector.

Two countries have joined NATO since the invasion

Finland and Sweden, which had historically remained outside the Atlantic Alliance, decided to join after the Russian attack on Ukraine. Finland joined in April 2023 and Sweden in March 2024. With these additions, NATO now has 32 member states.

5% of GDP allocated to military spending

In a context where NATO feels threatened by Russia's expansionist ambitions, Trump has demanded that member states increase military spending to 5% of GDP. Even Spain, which had opposed the measure, has increased its spending by more than half a percentage point in a year, reaching 2%.