Recent investigations by the Russian service of the BBC and the independent outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with volunteer teams, have confirmed the identities of 204,626 Russian military personnel who died during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This figure is derived from publicly available sources.
The data reveals that a significant portion of the deceased, totaling 75,288, were volunteers, while 18,226 were mobilized individuals and 22,207 were prisoners. Collectively, these groups account for 57% of all reported deaths, indicating that many were not affiliated with the Russian armed forces at the time of the invasion.
Among the confirmed casualties are 7,009 officers, which includes 494 lieutenant colonels, 164 colonels, and 13 generals. Notably, one of the generals listed, Andrei Golovatsky, had previously been sentenced to prison.
In February, the list was updated to include over 35,000 names, most of whom were previously classified as missing in action. Researchers noted that more than 80% of these individuals, whose deaths have now been verified, perished in 2024 and 2025.
The rise in the number of missing persons over the past two years is attributed to changes in the nature of combat, particularly the widespread use of FPV drones, the expansion of minefields, and an increase in Russian offensive operations in contested areas. These factors have complicated the evacuation and recovery of deceased soldiers.
Researchers caution that the actual death toll for Russian forces may be significantly higher than the figures reported. Estimates suggest that their data might reflect only 45% to 65% of the true number of fatalities. The Russian government has not released official statistics regarding military losses.
The confirmed death toll of Russian soldiers in Ukraine has reached over 204,000, with a significant portion being volunteers and mobilized individuals. Researchers indicate that actual losses may be even higher, as the Russian government has not provided official figures.
Source: BBC Russian Service