According to unnamed intelligence sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the true toll of casualties from President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has surpassed one million people on both sides. Since the war began on February 24, 2022, more than one million individuals have been either killed or injured. The exact number remains difficult to determine, as both Russia and Ukraine have not released official estimates.

As of Tuesday, Ukrainian estimates put the number of Russian casualties at 635,880, including those killed and wounded. Moscow last updated its tally in September 2022, stating that nearly 6,000 Russian soldiers had lost their lives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported in February 2024 that approximately 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed. However, The Wall Street Journal suggests that this figure may be an underestimate used to manage public sentiment and promote recruitment. Confidential sources revealed that an earlier Kyiv estimate listed 80,000 Ukrainian troops killed and 400,000 injured.

Western intelligence estimates, also cited by the WSJ, indicate that 200,000 Russian troops have been killed, with 600,000 wounded. These figures combined would result in a grim total of over one million casualties on both sides.

Tragically, the conflict has also taken a toll on civilians. United Nations acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Joyce Msuya, stated that more than 11,700 civilians have lost their lives so far.

Beyond the devastating loss of life, the invasion has had severe demographic consequences for Ukraine. The Ukrainian government estimates that the population in territories under Kyiv's control has decreased from 40 million to between 25 and 27 million people. Furthermore, over 10 million individuals have been forcibly displaced as a result of the war. This exacerbates an existing demographic crisis, as Ukraine was already struggling with low fertility rates prior to the invasion.

The impact on women of childbearing age has been particularly profound. Massimo Diana, the United Nations Population Fund's representative in Ukraine, highlighted that the war conditions have hindered family planning and childbirth. The separation of families and the stress caused by the conflict have further reduced birthrates and increased challenges for giving birth. The overall effect of these factors is a bleak outlook for population recovery in the near future.

The demographic situation has influenced President Zelensky's decision-making process regarding mobilizing men aged between 18 and 25. Recognizing the potential devastation on the country's already fragile demographic landscape, he has refrained from mobilizing these individuals, as they typically do not have children. The loss of their lives or their incapacitation would further darken Ukraine's demographic prospects.

The impact of President Putin's invasion on Ukraine extends far beyond the immediate casualties and territorial gains. The true extent of the human cost continues to unfold, leaving a scarred nation grappling with a population in crisis and an uncertain path to recovery.