By utilizing open-source intelligence, the independent Russian news agency Mediazona, in a collaborative effort with BBC Russia, has verified and disclosed the identities of 51,679 Russian soldiers who have perished in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale military operation began in February 2022.
Mediazona has included an additional 1,208 names in their most recent listing since their update in mid-April, as reported in an article which can be found here.
The gathered data, derived from a range of publicly accessible sources such as obituaries, social media posts from family members, news by regional news outlets, and announcements from local government bodies, point to a death toll that is speculated to be significantly higher than what has been confirmed, the journalists report.
The report highlights the deaths of over 3,400 Russian military officers, with at least 395 of them being Lieutenant Colonel or above. Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, who served as Russia’s deputy commander of the Southern Military District, is so far the highest-ranking casualty.
It is also revealed that approximately 10,500 Russian convicts mobilized for frontline duties have been killed in the warfare.
An earlier study conducted jointly by Mediazona and another independent Russian outlet, Meduza, on Feb. 24, indicated that Russian military casualties could exceed 83,000. However, the total number remains disputed with various estimations circulating.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted in February 2024 that the Russian military suffered around 180,000 fatalities, adding that Ukrainian forces have lost 31,000 soldiers. These numbers, according to Zelensky, cannot be verified until Russian-occupied territories are retrieved.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported as of April 28 that the Russian military has experienced a total of 466,150 casualties (killed and injured combined) since the outbreak of the conflict. This account roughly aligns with figures disclosed by Leo Docherty, the U.K. Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on April 27.
Note: The facts and information provided are based on a rewritten article accessed through AI news feed technology and originally reported by https://kyivindependent.com/mediazona-confirms-identities-of-over-51-600-russian-soldiers-killed-in-ukraine/. TheUBJ is not responsible for the original news content; credit goes to the respective original sources.
FAQ Section
- What is the significance of Mediazona’s report?
Mediazona’s report brings to light the high number of Russian military casualties verified through open-source research, which gives insight into the serious toll the conflict is taking on Russian forces. - Are the figures provided by Mediazona and other sources considered accurate?
While Mediazona and other independent analysts provide estimates based on available data, it is important to note that the actual casualty figures can be higher and may vary according to the source. These numbers are often difficult to confirm due to the chaotic nature of war and information control by involved governments. - What does the Ukrainian military say about their own casualties?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that about 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, but full verification awaits the liberation of occupied territories. - How does the international community estimate Russian losses?
International entities like the UK’s armed forces have provided their own evaluations, roughly aligning with the figures reported by Ukrainian authorities, indicating high numbers of Russian casualties.
Conclusion
The findings of Mediazona, along with corroborating reports from entities like BBC Russia and Meduza, underscore the gravity of the conflict in Ukraine and the substantial losses suffered by Russian military forces. While the specific numbers of casualties remain a topic of some uncertainty, the consistently high figures cited by various sources reflect the intense and costly nature of the war. The impact of these verified deaths not only speaks to military strategies and on-the-ground realities but also hints at broader geopolitical and social repercussions for Russia as the conflict continues.