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Russia-Ukraine War: 186,000 Dead, Population Plummets to 28 Million

2/23/2026

44 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The war began on February 24, 2022, and it has produced over 186,000 combat deaths and about 1.2 million casualties.
Support for the war remains high in Russia as citizens adapt to wartime conditions.
In Ukraine, infrastructure destruction and a population decline from 40 million to an estimated 25–28 million have occurred.
The war has strained Russia's international relations, pushing it closer to China and diminishing its global influence.

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Story summary

The war began on February 24, 2022, and it has produced over 186,000 combat deaths and about 1.2 million casualties.
Support for the war remains high in Russia as citizens adapt to wartime conditions.
In Ukraine, infrastructure destruction and a population decline from 40 million to an estimated 25–28 million have occurred.
The war has strained Russia's international relations, pushing it closer to China and diminishing its global influence.