Russia's 2024 war toll hits 434k; Putin boosts military numbers
Russia's losses in the war against Ukraine in 2024 amounted to over 434,000 people (killed and wounded), exceeding the total figures from 2022 and 2023, stated Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Syrskyi appeared as a guest on the Ukrainian television program TSN. He reported that Russia's losses in 2024 alone surpassed the combined total figures from 2022 and 2023.
- By our calculations, total [Russian – ed.] losses amounted to over 434,000 personnel, of whom approximately 150,000 were killed in 2024 alone. This year of combat has cost them more than the previous two years of the war combined - said Syrskyi.
When asked about the ratio of losses between the Ukrainian and Russian forces, Syrskyi replied: - (Russian losses are - editor's note) In many times, let's put it this way.
Putin enlarges the army
In mid-September 2024, Vladimir Putin issued his third decree increasing the size of the army since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Starting December 1, the number of active soldiers will rise to 1.5 million, and the total number of soldiers in the armed forces will be 2,389,000.
On January 1, 2024, Russia raised the upper age limit for military conscription. However, the new rules do not apply to those who turned 27 before the end of 2023 and those who turned 28 or 29 earlier in the same year and are already in the reserves.
It should be noted that the new autumn draft is the first to raise the age limit to 30 years.
