Almost 81,000 Russian military killed in war in Ukraine, journalists confirm

By November 29, journalists from Mediazona and the Russian BBC, alongside volunteers, identified the names of 80,973 Russian soldiers killed in the Russia-Ukraine war since the large-scale invasion began in February 2022, according to Radio Liberty.

Over half of these casualties (52%) were not active members of the Russian military at the start of the invasion. This group includes individuals who signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense after the war began. The updated report highlights a sharp increase in losses among volunteer soldiers. 

“Their share of overall confirmed losses continues to grow and now makes up 22%,” the report states. Many volunteers die within two to four weeks of arriving at the frontlines. For comparison, volunteers accounted for 14% of total losses in November 2023.

“The actual number of civilians who joined the army after the invasion and were killed at the front is much higher, as we couldn’t verify how 28% of the identified casualties ended up on the battlefield,” the Russian BBC adds.

Meanwhile, the proportion of convicts recruited from penal colonies has decreased, dropping from 26% in November 2023 to 18% now. However, prisoner units remain on the frontlines, absorbing significant combat pressure, according to the report.

Since the invasion began, Mediazona and the Russian BBC have tracked reported deaths of Russian soldiers using media, government websites, and social media. Their tally excludes losses among military units from occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 

The journalists emphasize that actual Russian losses are higher, as not all deaths are publicly reported.

In July, Meduza and Mediazona released a study estimating Russian military deaths using statistical methods and excess mortality data. They concluded that, after two and a half years of war, approximately 120,000 Russian soldiers had died.