U.S. & NATO National Security

Estonian intelligence says Russia has lost roughly 1 million troops, and Western estimates cited in reporting put combined battlefield casualties for Russia and Ukraine at nearly 2 million. Human-rights group Truth Hounds and Ukrainian authorities allege Russia is increasingly coercing, deceiving or trafficking recruits from Africa and Asia—targeting foreigners already in Russia and those lured from home with promises of civilian work—forcing many to sign Russian-language military contracts (some after beatings or torture), and Kyiv estimates more than 18,000 foreigners had joined Russian forces by late 2025.