Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine is Now Longer than WWI - Five Things to Know
Kyiv Post • • world
Key Points:
- The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, starting February 24, 2022, has now lasted 1,568 days, surpassing the length of Russia’s involvement in World War I (1,567 days from 1914-1918).
- World War I was a total war for Russia with full mobilization and millions conscripted, resulting in about 9 million Russian military casualties, whereas the Ukraine war involves a smaller portion of the population (about 1.2-1.4%) and roughly 1.2 million Russian casualties.
- Both wars saw high casualty rates among Russian soldiers once deployed, with about 60-76% becoming casualties, and similar military tactics emphasizing concentrated firepower and the resilience of Russian troops.
- The modern Russian military is more technologically challenged compared to Ukrainian forces, relying heavily on legacy equipment and foreign components, while Ukraine employs advanced drones and digital warfare technologies that outpace Russian capabilities.
- Unlike the societal collapse and revolution faced by Russia in 1917 during World War I, modern Russia maintains strong state control, media dominance, and relative economic stability despite the ongoing war, though underlying issues like inflation, casualties, and political isolation persist.