Russia is suffering the worst month of casualties, a UK defense official has said

Russia has suffered its worst month of casualties since the war in Ukraine began, a UK defense official told the BBC.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said the Russian military suffered an average of 1,500 killed and wounded “every day” in October, bringing its losses to 700,000 since the war began in February 2022.

Russia does not release a death toll from the fighting, but Western defense officials said the death toll in October was the heaviest so far.

In an interview with BBC One’s Sunday program with Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Tony said the Russian people were paying an “extraordinary price” for Putin’s attacks.

“Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or injured – the worst pain and suffering the Russian nation has ever suffered at the whim of Putin,” Sir Tony said.

He said the loss was “due to a small increase in land”.

“There is no doubt that Russia is gaining tactically, geographically and that puts pressure on Ukraine,” he said.

But he added that Russia spends more than 40% of its public spending on defense and security, which he said is a “difficult drag” on the country.

While US President-elect Donald Trump’s allies insist that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have to cede territory to end the conflict, Sir Tony insisted that Western allies would be willing “as long as possible”.

“That is a message that President Putin needs to hear and a reassurance to President Zelensky,” he told the program.

Trump has consistently said that his priority is to end the war and stop what he sees as a drain on US resources, military aid and financial support to Ukraine.

But he has yet to reveal how he intends to do that – and he is likely to hear competing views on Ukraine’s future from his various advisers.

Earlier this week, Putin congratulated Trump on his election victory and said Trump’s claim that he could help end the war in Ukraine “should be given at least some attention”.

Trump’s Democratic opponents have accused him of meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and say his approach to war is tantamount to giving up on Ukraine, which would endanger all of Europe.

Bryan Lanza, Trump’s political adviser during his 2016 and 2024 campaigns, he said the incoming administration will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine instead of enabling the country to gain territory held by Russia.

Mr Lanza told the BBC that the incoming administration would ask President Zelensky for his version of a “realistic vision of peace”.

Trump’s spokesman distanced himself from the incoming president in these statements, saying that Mr. Lanza “does not speak for him”.

Last month, Zelensky presented a “victory plan” to the Ukrainian parliament which included refusing to cede territory and sovereignty to Ukraine.

The Kremlin dismissed the plan through a spokesman, saying Kyiv needed to “sober down”.