CIA Director: New Russian Recruits Survive Average 20–30 Minutes in Ukraine

CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed alarming data on Russian military losses in Ukraine during a defense and innovation summit in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. According to him, newly recruited Russian soldiers survive an average of only 20 to 30 minutes upon entering the combat zone.

Ratcliffe attributed the high casualty rate to Ukraine's extensive use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) equipped with artificial intelligence. These devices have evolved into specialized, low-cost killing machines that have significantly slowed the Russian army's advance. The CIA director noted that his assessment aligns with open-source reports, including findings from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

CSIS research indicates that Ukrainian drones have increased Russian manpower losses fivefold. In 2026, the Russian army has suffered eight times more casualties than the Ukrainian armed forces, according to CSIS. Since Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, total casualties—including killed, wounded, and missing—amount to approximately two million, with 1.4 million attributed to Russian forces.

While earlier in the war the loss ratio between Russia and Ukraine stood at 2:1 or 3:1, it has risen to 8:1 in the first half of 2026. According to CSIS data, more than 90% of Russian losses are directly linked to drone attacks rather than direct combat engagements.