Mediazona, an independent Russian media outlet, has collaborated with BBC Russia to confirm the names of 51,679 Russian soldiers who have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The journalists have been able to verify this information through open-source research, using public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media news, and reports from local authorities. The number of casualties continues to rise, with 1,208 names added since mid-April. It’s important to note that the actual figures could be higher as the information verified so far is based on publicly available sources.
Since the start of the war, over 3,400 officers have been killed in combat in Ukraine, with 395 of them holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher. Among the casualties, Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov of Russia’s Southern Military District is the highest-ranking military official to have lost his life in the conflict. The analysts also highlight that at least 10,500 Russian inmates have been killed on the frontline. Despite efforts to verify the numbers, the total estimates of Russian casualties vary widely, with President Zelensky stating in February 2024 that around 180,000 Russians had been killed. However, the exact number remains unknown until the territories occupied by Russia are liberated.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia has lost a total of 466,150 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, including both killed and wounded soldiers. This number aligns with estimates from the U.K.’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces, who mentioned that the killed and wounded soldiers approximate to about 450,000. The situation on the ground continues to evolve, with Ukrainian forces retreating from three villages in Donetsk Oblast and Russia gaining foothold in Ocheretyne. Key developments on April 27-28 also include discussions between Zelensky and Johnson about the timeline for Ukrainian resistance without US aid and Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries.
As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, the human cost of the war becomes increasingly evident through the rising number of casualties on both sides. The collaboration between Mediazona and BBC Russia sheds light on the individual stories behind the statistics, identifying the names and ranks of fallen Russian soldiers. Despite the challenges in obtaining accurate figures, the journalists’ dedication to open-source research has provided valuable insights into the scale of the conflict and the toll it has taken on military personnel. The ongoing updates on casualties underscore the impact of the war and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those involved in the conflict.
The loss of over 3,400 officers, including high-ranking military officials, highlights the severity of the conflict and the risks faced by those on the frontlines. The death of Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov underscores the heavy toll that the war has taken on Russian military leadership. Additionally, the revelation that at least 10,500 Russian inmates have been killed in combat further emphasizes the human cost of the conflict. These figures provide a sobering reminder of the ongoing violence in Ukraine and the challenges faced by those involved in the conflict, both military personnel and civilians. The varying estimates of total casualties reflect the complexities of war and the difficulty in accurately documenting the true extent of the losses suffered by all parties.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces’ report on the number of Russian troops lost in Ukraine since the start of the invasion provides a grim picture of the scale of the conflict. The staggering figure of 466,150 troops, including both killed and wounded, underscores the significant human cost of the war. As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, with Ukrainian forces retreating from certain areas and Russia gaining ground in others, the ongoing updates on casualties serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and its impact on all parties involved. The developments on April 27-28 further highlight the fluid nature of the conflict and the challenges faced by those on the frontlines.
