Putin draws red line over European troops in Ukraine

According to British intelligence, over 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reported on September 11. The head of the U.K.'s military, Sir Rich Knighton, emphasized the senseless and futile loss of life for minimal territorial gains, stating that the war aims of President Vladimir Putin are illegitimate.

Most of Russia's losses have occurred since January 2023, with Russia only capturing 2% of Ukrainian territory in that time. The head of the U.K.'s intelligence, cyber, and security agency, Anne Keast-Butler, previously confirmed nearly 500,000 Russian troop casualties by late May. The overall casualty count, including killed, wounded, and missing, is estimated at 1.5 million since February 2022, matching Ukrainian figures.

Ukraine's General Staff reported on September 11 that Russian casualties now stand at over 1.5 million since the invasion began, including 1,490 losses in the past day. The Kremlin's total personnel losses in Ukraine surpass the combined casualties of Russian and Soviet forces in all conflicts during the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st century.

Knighton noted that the war is starting to affect Russia's economic outlook, leading to slower growth, reduced consumer demand, and persistently high inflation. In response to Ukrainian drone strikes on oil facilities, the Russian Central Bank kept its key interest rate at 14% on September 11, the first time they have not cut rates since mid-June 2025.