Russia tries to freeze Ukraine as it suffers record casualties and retreats

Is the war entering a new phase? Russia suffered its highest losses of 2026 in September, when 46,230 of its soldiers were killed or wounded, according to the Ukrainian military . The new record comes after Russian casualties of about 40,000 a month since June, and is close to the goal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set in January of 50,000 Russian casualties a month. Russia reportedly lost 2,090 troops on September 28 - its highest 24-hour casualty rate of the war. Al Jazeera cannot verify casualty claims from either side.