More Than 70,000 Soldiers Fighting for Russia Have Now Been Killed

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More than 70,000 people fighting for Russia have now lost their lives in the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to data analyzed by the BBC. For the first time since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, volunteers—civilians who joined Russia's armed forces after the start of the war—constitute the highest number of battlefield deaths.

 

Daily, the names of those killed, their obituaries, and images from their funerals are shared across Russian media and social platforms. BBC Russian, along with the independent website Mediazona, has been compiling these names from public sources, including official reports. They have verified that the information was shared by either authorities or relatives of the deceased and confirmed their deaths in combat.

 

 

New graves in Russian cemeteries, often marked by defense ministry flags and wreaths, also provide names of soldiers who have died in Ukraine. BBC and Mediazona’s research has identified the names of 70,112 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, although the true number is likely much higher. Some families do not publicize the deaths of their relatives, and the analysis does not cover deaths in militia units in Russian-occupied regions like Donetsk and Luhansk. Among the confirmed dead, 13,781 were volunteers, constituting roughly 20%. This category now surpasses others, such as former prisoners, who previously accounted for 19% of deaths, and mobilized soldiers, who make up 13%.

 

Since October 2022, weekly deaths of volunteers have consistently exceeded 100, with some weeks seeing more than 310 fatalities. In contrast, Ukraine has remained relatively silent about its losses. While President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in February that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, U.S. intelligence estimates suggest higher numbers.

 

The story of Rinat Khusniyarov illustrates the experience of many Russian volunteers. Hailing from Ufa in Bashkortostan, Khusniyarov had been juggling two jobs at a tram depot and a plywood factory before enlisting in November last year at age 62. He was killed less than three months later, on February 27. His obituary on a local memorial website described him as "a hardworking, decent man." Data shows that most volunteers come from small towns in Russia where stable employment is scarce, and many appear to have enlisted voluntarily, although reports from Chechnya suggest some have faced coercion or threats.

 

Some volunteers did not fully understand that the contracts they signed had no clear end date. Several have unsuccessfully sought help from pro-Kremlin journalists to leave the service. Military salaries, significantly higher than the average wages in less affluent regions, as well as benefits like tax breaks and free childcare, have lured many to enlist. One-time sign-up bonuses have also increased in value across Russia.

 

Most of the volunteers killed are aged between 42 and 50, with 4,100 of them in this age range. A total of 250 volunteers over the age of 60 have died, including the oldest volunteer, who was 71.

 

Rising casualties among volunteers are attributed in part to their deployment in the most dangerous front-line areas, particularly in the Donetsk region. Russian soldiers describe a "meat grinder" strategy where waves of troops are sent forward to exhaust Ukrainian forces, often with little equipment or artillery support. Drone footage shows Russian soldiers attacking Ukrainian positions without necessary military backing. In some cases, hundreds of soldiers have been killed in a single day.

 

Recently, Russian forces have made desperate attempts to capture the eastern Ukrainian towns of Chasiv Yar and Pokrovsk, but have faced significant losses. According to an official study by the Russian defense ministry's medical directorate, 39% of soldiers die from limb injuries that could be prevented with better first aid and medical care.

 

Despite these casualties, the Russian government appears reluctant to initiate a new wave of forced mobilization. Instead, it is intensifying efforts to recruit volunteers, offering greater incentives to enlist. Local officials are increasingly tasked with recruiting from their regions, often targeting men with financial or legal troubles. They have also conducted recruitment campaigns at universities.

 

Since 2022, prisoners have been encouraged to enlist in exchange for pardons, and a new policy allows people facing criminal prosecution to avoid trial by agreeing to fight, with their cases being frozen or dropped. The war, which has already claimed tens of thousands of lives, continues to grind on with no clear end in sight.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-09-21

 

 

 

[tgw]

From the article above:

BBC and Mediazona’s research has identified the names of 70,112 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, although the true number is likely much higher.

 

these are 70.112 dead Russians that have been identified by name.

 

I think the headline is misleading casual readers and browsers into believing the Russian deathtoll is just 70k.

 

and do those numbers include DPR and LPR troops ?

Edited 2 hours ago by tgw