---
title: "General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Russian army losses in October 2026 reach a record 49,040 troops"
description: "According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the combat losses of the Russian army in October 2026 amounted to 49,040 people, the highest monthly figure since the start of the full-scale invasion. Average daily losses reach 1,750 troops."
date: 2026-10-29T10:50:40.101Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/general-staff-russian-army-losses-october-2026-record
tags: [ukraine-war, russian-army-losses, vsu-general-staff, military, drone-warfare, october-2026]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Russian army losses in October 2026 reach a record 49,040 troops

![Ukrainian serviceman in a helmet and body armor against the background of an explosion and smoke on the frontline](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/29/gensthab-vsu-poteri-armii-rf-oktyabr-2026-rekord-49040/gensthab-vsu-poteri-armii-rf-oktyabr-2026-rekord-49040-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Combat losses of the Russian army in October 2026, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reached 49,040 people — a record since the start of the full-scale invasion
- Average daily enemy losses in October reach about 1,750 people, which, according to the General Staff's assessment, exceeds Russia's ability to replenish units
- Since the beginning of 2026, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed or wounded 302,000 Russian servicemen using unmanned aerial vehicles

As of October 29, 2026, the total combat personnel losses of the Russian army for the current month reached 49,040 people, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing the Telegram channel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the General Staff, this is already the highest monthly figure since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With three days still remaining until the end of October, a further breaking of the record is highly likely.

### A record broken for the third consecutive month

The previous maximum monthly figure was recorded in December 2024 at 48,670 people. However, in 2026 the dynamics of the Russian army's losses demonstrate steady growth: in February the figure reached 26,090 people, in September 46,230, and in October (as of the 29th) already 49,040. The average daily enemy losses in October currently stand at about 1,750 people. Thus, over the first eight months of 2026, the monthly figure has almost doubled.

### «Every month of the war costs the Russian army more and more»

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasizes that the rate of losses exceeds the Russian side's ability to replenish its units. «Every month of the war costs the Russian army more and more,» the department noted. Experts have previously pointed out that the steady growth of monthly losses coupled with limited access to mobilization resources creates a structural personnel deficit for the Russian army that cannot be compensated for in the short term.

### The role of unmanned systems in generating losses

A significant share of the Russian army's losses in 2026 comes from the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. According to data previously published by the Ukrainian side, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed or wounded 302,000 Russian servicemen using UAVs since the beginning of 2026. This indicates that unmanned systems have become one of the key factors determining the ratio of losses at the front and accelerating the depletion of the Russian army's personnel.

### Context: the September record and its surpassing

Recall that at the beginning of October, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in September 2026, the Defense Forces eliminated or wounded a record number of Russian servicemen — 46,230 people, which was the highest monthly figure for the whole of 2026 at that time. October data published on the 29th confirmed and surpassed the September level, cementing the trend toward increasing combat intensity and the scale of losses on both sides of the conflict.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [ВСУ за октябрь уничтожили рекордное количество оккупантов](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zsu-zhovten-znishchili-rekordnu-kilkist-okupantiv-1793270328.html) - Primary source. Figures: 49,040 (October, as of Oct 29), 48,670 (December 2024), 26,090 (February 2026), 46,230 (September 2026), ~1,750/day, 302,000 (UAVs since the beginning of 2026). All data attributed to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- [Генштаб: Силы обороны в сентябре отминусовали рекордное количество оккупантов](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/10/01/8055949/) - Confirms the September figure of 46,230 as the record for 2026 at that time. Matches data from source 1.

## FAQ

### What were the losses of the Russian army in October 2026 according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

As of October 29, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports 49,040 lost Russian servicemen for the current month. This is the maximum monthly figure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

### What was the previous monthly loss record?

The previous record was set in December 2024 at 48,670 people. In 2026, this figure was surpassed: in September it was 46,230, and in October (as of the 29th) it reached 49,040.

### What is the dynamics of losses in 2026?

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in February 2026 monthly losses amounted to 26,090 people, in September 46,230, and in October (as of Oct 29) 49,040. The average daily figure in October is about 1,750 people.

### What role do drones play in the losses of the Russian army?

Since the beginning of 2026, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, according to published data, have destroyed or wounded 302,000 Russian servicemen using unmanned aerial vehicles.