According to a recent report by the BBC’s Russian service and the Mediazona news website, over 70,000 Russian soldiers have been confirmed killed in Ukraine since the invasion began more than two years ago. The data, gathered from open-source information, shows a shift in the demographic profile of the soldiers killed, with more older men lacking combat experience now losing their lives in the conflict.
Recent updates indicate a rise in casualties among volunteers, particularly after a renewed offensive in Avdiivka. The report also highlights regional disparities in casualties, with Bashkortostan reporting the highest losses and the Nenets Autonomous District the lowest.
The tally includes 4,104 officers, including seven generals, and estimates that the actual death toll could be much higher, ranging from 107,864 to 155,804. Additionally, the count does not include fighters from the self-proclaimed entities in eastern Ukraine.
The official Russian Defense Ministry death toll is significantly lower than the independent estimate, indicating a potential discrepancy in reporting.