Russia Says It Lost 498 Soldiers in Invasion, One Tenth of Ukraine’s Estimate

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region on Feb. 26, 2022. Anatolii Stepanov / AFP via Getty Images

For the first time since its invasion of Ukraine began last week, Russia disclosed its war casualties on March 2, with a defense ministry spokesperson saying nearly 500 military personnel have lost their lives in the conflict.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that 498 Russian soldiers had been killed and 1,597 wounded as part of what Moscow continued to call a “special military operation.”