Over 258,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation
The journalists note that the actual number of deaths is likely significantly higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.
Mediazona, a Russian independent news outlet, has partnered with BBC Russia to identify and verify the names of over 258,000 Russian military personnel who have lost their lives in the conflict in Ukraine. This figure represents a significant increase from previous estimates, with more than 10,000 names added in just two weeks. The surge in confirmed deaths is largely attributed to a leaked list of bodies exchanged between Russia and Ukraine, which the journalists cross-referenced with official registries to ensure accuracy.
However, Mediazona emphasizes that the actual death toll is likely much higher, as their verified data primarily comes from public sources like obituaries, family posts, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities. As of September 21, the outlet had confirmed the deaths of 7,692 officers within the Russian military and other security agencies.
The list also includes around 20,500 mobilized soldiers, though this figure is considered a significant underestimate since recent obituaries often omit recruitment details.
Of the 241,600 cases where the date of death is known, the majority of the names have been added to the list within the past two weeks. Mediazona warns that the data for the most recent months remains incomplete, and the number of deaths is expected to increase as additional fatalities are verified. The Kyiv Independent, unable to independently verify these reports, relies on Mediazona's findings.
These latest updates come amid ongoing heavy casualties suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on September 27 that Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded 10,660 Russian troops in the previous week, citing a statement from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff estimated on the same day that Russia had suffered a total of 1,528,970 personnel losses since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a figure that does not differentiate between those killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
Due to varying casualty estimates and the lack of comprehensive, independently verifiable figures from both Russia and Ukraine, the true extent of military losses remains unclear.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
