According to a recent report by the BBC, independent media group Mediazona, and volunteer efforts, over 50,000 Russian military personnel have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This figure represents a significant increase from previous estimates, with more than 27,300 soldiers dying in the second year alone, marking a 25% rise from the previous year. These counts have been meticulously compiled since February 2022, utilizing a variety of sources, such as official reports, media coverage, and satellite imagery of Russian cemeteries, to estimate the number of new graves.
The figure of more than 50,000 is eight times higher than the official death count acknowledged by Moscow in September 2022. It does not include deaths of militia in Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine reported around 31,000 military casualties, though this number is likely an underestimate
In February, this year, Ukraine reported around 31,000 military casualties, though this number is also likely an underestimate. Russian losses surged in January 2023 during a major offensive in Donetsk, and again later in the year during the battle for Bakhmut. President Putin declared a “special military operation” on February 24, 2022, which evolved into a protracted and brutal conflict, further alienating Russia from the Western world.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added official secrets laws and those covering what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine meant it was “absolutely understandable” that the ministry did not release the figures.