How many Ukrainians and Russians have died in Putin’s war?

Military and civilian casualty figures in the Russia-Ukraine war get lost in misinformation fog as both sides scramble for face-savers.

More than three million people have fled Ukraine as Russia takes complete administrative control of the Kherson region and continues to bomb the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, besides other cities such as Kharkiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Chernihiv.

That estimation of three million refugees from the United Nations (UN) has not been disputed. But conflicting claims have been pouring in as to the death of soldiers, from both sides, and civilians since the February 24 invasion ordered by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to “stop genocides” in Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s regime. Sample these:

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We can assume Ukrainian casualties will be higher because of Russia’s mightier military, which is, however, said to be nearing exhaustion of ammunition to continue the Ukraine war. We can understand why the US, Russia and Ukraine are claiming what they’re claiming. But we don’t have a clear sense of the death toll as it often happens in an active war zone.

Even civilian casualty numbers by the UN are said to be vastly underestimated. One explanation being offered is that this is because of the ground situation. Intense fighting in several areas has disrupted reporting and verification.

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UN staffers are forced to frequently relocate due to the worsening security situation, unable to interview victims and witnesses. That’s why the UN has said the actual civilian casualty numbers are likely to be much higher.