Kremlin’s disposable soldiers: how Russia sacrifices its conscripts in Ukraine

Defense Express reports.

Beneath the Kremlin's mountain of war crimes, the issue of conscripts might seem overshadowed. Yet, Russian families still struggle to locate their children and prove their involvement in combat.

Reports of Russian conscripts participating in the invasion of Ukraine surfaced immediately on February 24, 2022. Despite official denials, including Putin’s statement on March 5, videos of young soldiers revealed their deployment. The Defense Ministry later claimed to have withdrawn over 600 conscripts but continued deaths undermined this assertion. For instance, 14 conscript sailors died when the cruiser Moskva sank in April, while the body of a 19-year-old soldier killed early in the war was returned to his family only in March 2024.

Kirill Chistyakov (left) was reportedly identified through a DNA test / Photo from open sources. Published by: Necro Mancer on social network X, Photo: Defense Express

The Kremlin avoids disclosing conscript casualties, forcing families to search for their relatives for years. Some, like the families of Moskva sailors, even had to go to court to confirm deaths in combat. Human rights groups estimate that over 1,426 soldiers under 20 years old have died since the war began, including at least 159 conscripts—data based only on verified cases.

Most conscripts hailed from impoverished rural areas. Many were sent to Ukraine without signing contracts, with their signatures forged. Three conscripts from Sakhalin, for example, sued the Defense Ministry over falsified contracts but were sent to the front and killed before their cases were resolved.

Families frequently report inadequate preparation for combat. Conscripts were often trained only in marching or menial tasks, with minimal access to weapons. Essential equipment and protective gear were typically insufficient or delayed. One grieving mother, Ludmyla Khaniga, lamented that her son had held a rifle only twice before being sent to war.

Photo for illustrative purposes, Photo: Defense Express

The Kremlin, however, has intensified conscription. Between 2023 and 2026, the draft is set to triple, targeting 800,000 recruits annually, while extending service terms to two years and raising the draft age range from 18 to 27, to 21–30.

Conscripts have frequently borne the brunt of combat. In August 2024, during Ukraine’s breakthrough into Russia’s Kursk region, conscripts were placed on the frontline, resulting in many being captured or killed.

For the Kremlin, sacrificing its own citizens has long been standard practice. The plight of conscripts reflects this disregard for human life and rights and should remain a key focus in discussions with international partners, especially regarding Russia’s ongoing covert mobilization efforts.