Russia Has Lost Over 70,000 Soldiers So Far

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war more than two and a half years ago, the Russian military has lost over 70,000 soldiers. BBC and Russian news outlet Mediazona confirmed this information in a report published on Friday.

Russian media regularly updates the number of soldiers killed and injured, along with their names and identities. Additionally, Russia’s Ministry of Defense and related agencies also release casualty figures. The names of Russian soldiers buried in cemeteries are also recorded.

BBC and Mediazona used these three sources to gather data and contacted the families of the deceased soldiers to verify the information.

Key Stats:
Russian soldiers killed in the Ukraine war: 70,112 (confirmed by BBC and Mediazona)
Volunteer fighters among the deceased: 13,781 (13% of total deaths)
Age range of volunteers: Mostly between 42-50 years old
Oldest identified volunteer: 71 years old
At least 250 volunteers aged: 60 or older

According to BBC’s report, “Based on our calculations, 70,112 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war. We have confirmed their names, identities, and deaths. However, the actual death toll is likely much higher, as many families of deceased soldiers and officials have been unwilling to share information with the media. Furthermore, we do not have complete casualty data for those fighting for Russia in Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.”

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Of the 70,112 identified Russian soldiers, 13,781 were volunteer fighters. These were civilians who later joined the Russian military in response to the state's call. Volunteers make up 13% of Russia's total deaths in the war over the past two and a half years.

Most of these volunteer fighters come from economically disadvantaged cities and villages in Russia, where finding satisfactory employment is difficult. Many joined the military out of necessity. Most of these volunteers enlisted willingly, drawn by the fact that current military pay is 5 to 7 times higher than before. Additionally, the Russian government offers various social benefits, such as free medical care for soldiers' children and tax exemptions. Beyond regular pay, volunteers receive a significant lump sum payment upon joining. For those in financial hardship, these benefits are highly appealing.

The majority of these volunteers are between 42 and 50 years old, with some being even older. The oldest volunteer fighter identified in BBC’s report was 71 years old. The list also includes at least 250 volunteers aged 60 or older.

In addition to Russian citizens, other countries’ volunteers, primarily from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian nations, are also fighting in the Russian military.

Despite the high pay and benefits, there have been complaints about the poor quality of the gear issued to the soldiers. According to several soldiers interviewed by BBC and Mediazona, the uniforms, helmets, and bulletproof vests provided by the government are cheap and of poor quality, unsuitable for the harsh winters.

One volunteer soldier, speaking anonymously, said, “The uniforms, helmets, and bulletproof vests given by the government are cheap and of poor quality, especially for the severe winters here. There are better quality items available, but you’ll have to buy them yourself.”
(Source: BBC)